LIBRARY 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


Gl  FT    OF 


." 


si 


'A. 


Books  by  Henry  Harrison  Brown. 

HOW  TO  CONTROL  FATE  THROUGH 
SUGGESTION,  60pp.,  paper,  25c. 

NOT  HYPNOTISM  BUT  SUGGESTION,  60 
pp.,  paper,  25c. 

MAN'S  GREATEST  DISCOVERY,  60  pp., 
paper,  25c. 

DOLLARS  WANT  ME,— THE  NEW  ROAD  TO 
OPULENCE,  24  pp.,  paper,  lOc. 

These  are  four  epoch-making  books.  They  have 
received  highest  commendation  from  the  greatest 
thinkers  of  today,  and  from  the  many  who  have 
already  bought  and  studied  them.  They  are  thought 
stimulators  and  point  the  way  to  health,  happiness 
and  success. 

NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER,  60  pp.,  paper  25c. 
Others  in  Preparation. 

NOW,  A  Journal  of  Affirmation;  the  Latest  Ev- 
olution of  the  New  Thought.  $1.00  a  year. 

THREE  CORRESPONDENCE  COURSES  of 
Lessons  which  should  be  studied  in  every 
home,  viz:  Suggestion,  25  Lessons;  Art  of 
Living,25  Lessons;  Psychometry,12  Lessons 

"NOW"  FOLK,  Publishers, 
1437  Market  Street,          SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 


Origin,  History  and  Principles  of  the  Movement* 


A  Lesson  in 
SOUL  CULTURE 


—BY- 
HENRY    HARRISON    BROWN, 

Author  of  "How  to  Control  Fate  through  Suggestion,"  "Not 
Hypnotism  but  Suggestion,"  "Man's  Greatest  Discovery," 
"Dollars  Want  Me,"  etc.,  and  Editor  of  NOW. 

Always  the  inaudible,  invisible  Thought, 
Artificer  and  subject,  lord  and  slave.— Tennyson. 

These  are  thoughts  of  all  men  in  all  ages  and  all  lands— 

they  are  not  original  with  me; 

If  they  are  not  yours  as  much  as  mine,  they  are  nothing. 

—Walt  Whitman. 

The  philosophy  of  six  thousand  years  has  not  searched 
the  chambers  and  magazines  of  the  Soul.  In  its  experi- 
ments, there  has  always  remained  in  the  last  analysis  a 
residuum  it  could  not  reveal.— 


THE 

Price,  25  Cents. 


"NOW"    FOLK, 

1437  MARKET  STREET,    SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 
1903. 

LONDON: 

L.  N.  FOWLER  &  Co., 
7,  Imperial  Arcade,  Ludgate  Circus,  E.  C. 


COPYRIGHTED,  1903, 

—BY— 
"NOW"  FOLK. 


IISTTRODUCTIOISr. 


I  purpose  but  an  outline  of  the  origin,  deyel- 
nient,  principles  and  purpose  of  the  wide- 
spread and  ever  widening  movement  compre- 
hended under  the  term,  "New  Thought."  The 
term  has  no  definite  meaning.  It  covers  a 
movement  at  present  heterogeneous  and  em- 
bracing many  minor  fields.  Its  limits  cannot 
be  mapped.  Each  person  is  to  draw  his  own 
lines.  In  this  Primer,  I  have  intended  to  make 
the  definition  as  broad  as  justice  and  the 
Principle  of  Evolution  would  let  me.  I  have 
tried  to  be  as  impartial  as  truth,  and  to  look 
upon  every  side  of  the  question  only  as  a  re- 
porter. The  charge  of  partiality  may  be 
brought  in  my  attention  to  my  own  position, 
but  here  I  feef  I  have  the  right  to  be  personal 
and  positive. 

TRUTH  alone  is  our  aim.  I  have  consecrated 
myself  to  Truth  and  my  life  is  now  in  her  ser- 
vice. I  can  afford  to  be  true  only  to  her,  and 
in  love,  just  to  my  fellows.  The  reader  will 
find  in  this  that  which  will  help  him  to  an  un- 
derstanding of  this  mighty  movement  and 
will  also  find  hints  that  will  direct  his  future 
study. 

Truth    is   so   lovely  that   the   Truth-seeker 
soon  becomes  the  Truth-lover.    I  am  glad  of 
the  privilege  of  lifting  for  a  moment  her  veil, 
knowing  that  all  who  see  will  follow  her. 
In  Love  and  Truth, 

Truly  your  friend, 

HENRY  HARRISON  BROWN 


160600 


To  the 
Memory  and  Omnipresence 

of 

All  who,  by  thought,  word,  or  deed,  have 

contributed  to  the  present 

freedom  of  Sow/. 


Origin,  History  and  Principles  of 
New  Thought 


HEREDITY. 

Under  the  law  of  Heredity  science  traces  evo- 
lution from  parent  to  child  and  thus  finds 
tendencies,  faculties  and  conditions,  that 
appear  in  parent,  are  transmitted  to  off- 
spring. There  is  no  human  condition  that  is 
not  the  child  of  a  preceding  one.  Variations 
occur  and  under  the  Law  of  Variation,  Nature 
unfolds.  This  law  of  evolution,  of  continuity, 
of  method,  and  purpose  is  a  constant  one. 
Ideas  also  have  their  heredity.  All  move- 
ments in  human  thought  obey  these  laws  of 
Heredity  and  Variation.  I  purpose  to  trace 
in  outline  the  Heredity  of  the  New  Thought 
movement.  I  will  give  information  sufficient 
to  enable  the  curious  reader  to  easily  fill  in 
additional  details.  Desiring  to  deal  justly 
with  each  form  of  the  movement,  I  will  cor- 
rect any  reported  injustice  in  subsequent  edi- 
tions. 

PAST    EVOLUTION, 

Human  progress  is  the  gradual  unfoldment 
of  that  which  is  eternally  in  man.  Life  in 
man  is  germinal ;  time  is  the  unfolder.  Each 
condition  is  but  a  slight  change  upon  some 
earlier  one.  Effects  are  the  result  of  some 
cause  which  is  but  the  effect  of  some  anterior 
cause,  which  is  also  the  effect  of  a  still  more 
remote  cause,  so  that  when  one  seeks  a  be- 
ginning of  any  movement  he  is  compelled  to 


8  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

answer:  "The  beginning  is  in  Ultimate 
Cause."  Therefore  to  trace  the  beginnings  of 
New  Thought  we  should  have  to  trace 
the  beginnings  of  history.  From  earliest  his- 
toric periods  we  can  trace  many  of  the  ideas 
of  this  movement.  Thought  is  a  wave 
that  flows  like  those  of  the  ocean  from 
shore  to  shore.  Every  age  and  people  is 
a  manifestation  of  this  movement.  A 
wave  once  started  in  ocean  never  stops  till  it 
reaches  the  limit  of  the  ocean,  so  a  thought 
once  started  will  never  stop,  for  there  is  no 
limit  to  the  medium  in  which  it  is  a  wave. 
That  medium  is  variously  called:  Energy, 
Spirit,  Soul,  God.  Truth  is  one  with  Ulti- 
mate Cause.  Truth  is  ever  unfolding.  Well 
says  Lowell :  — 

God  sends  his  teachers  unto  every  age, 
To  every  clime,  and  every  race  of  men, 
With  revelations  fitted  to  their  growth 
And  shape  of  mind,  nor  gives  the  realm  of  Truth 
Unto  the  selfish  rule  of  one  sole  race. 
Individual  perceptions  and  expressions  differ 
and  often  some  old  thought,  which   is  the 
common  possession  of  the  race,  is  given  forth 
by  some  earnest  soul  as  a  supposed  new  reve- 
lation.  The  student  of  comparative  religions, 
finds   that    all    these    varying   systems    are 
based    upon  the    same    conceptions.     Max 
Muller  tells  us  that  three  ideas  form  the  foun- 
dations of  all  religions,  viz:    1st — Sense  of 
some  over-ruling  Power;    2d — His  demands 
on  us,  out  of  which  grow  systems  of  worship; 
3d — The  recognition  of  human  duties,  out  of 
-which  grow  regulations  of  the  conduct  of 
man  to  man.    Jesus  announced   the  same  in 
his  condensation  of  Hebrew  Law  and  Proph- 
ets:   1st— Love  the  Lord,  thy  God.  2d— With 
all  thy  soul,  heart  and  mind.    3d— And  love 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  9 

thy  neighbor  as  thyself. 

No  matter  what  the  religion  or  philosophical 
belief,  it  is  based  upon  these.  From  the  coiir 
ception  of  primitive  man  to  the  present  time, 
there  has  been  but  an  evolution  ol  human 
thought  concerning  the  Power  that  is. 
New  Thought  is  but  a  later  conception  of 
this  One  Power.  It  is  an  evolution  of  that 
conception  into  a  conscious  reality.  Soul 
Culture  has  made  this  primitive  thought  of 
Power  an  actuality  in  daily  life  by  methods 
of  spiritual  unfoldment. 

ANCIENT    IDEAS. 

The  nations  of  antiquity,  as  evidenced  by 
their  relics,  and  notablj-  by  their  clay  tablets, 
held  many  of  our  present  conceptions.  Have 
not  these  conceptions  come  down  to  us  with 
the  life  they  transmitted  ?  The  Hindoo  Scrip- 
tures contain  many  conceptions  of  God,  Man 
and  Duty  that  are  familiar  to  us.  Did  they 
not  come  down  to  us  with  the  stock  of  Ary- 
an words  ? 

From  Hebrew  Scriptures  and  the  New  Testa- 
ment we  have  derived  much  of  present  con- 
ceptions of  Truth.  Why  have  all  these  con- 
ceptions survived  ?  By  reason  of  Nature's 
law:  The  Survival  of  the  Fittest.  That 
which  nearest  expresses  absolute  Truth,  that 
-which  most  completely  satisfies  the  Soul,  is 
not  allowed  to  pass  into  oblivion.  "Old 
ideas  revised  and  improved,  "could  be  written 
above  every  theologic,  scientific,  economic, 
social  and  artistic  creed  and  above  every  in- 
vention. "  Improvements,"  we  call  them. 
They  are  only  enlarged  conceptions  of  the 
truth  that  our  fathers  held.  Truth  is 
one.  The  most  any  age  or  race  can  do  is  to 


10  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

develop  somewhat  some  phase  of  Truth  by 
making  some  distinctive  change  in  the 
method  of  expression.  Through  this  Unity  of 
Truth  and  Unity  of  Unfoldment,  we  are  con- 
nected with  all  the  past  and  with  all  man- 
kind. It  is  thus  that  the  thinker  in  every  age 
becomes  one  of  the  "  choir  invisible." 

THE  CHRISTIAN  ERA. 

Present  civilization  has  been  most  effected  by 
Greek  Ideas  as  they  came  to  us  through 
the  New  Testament.  It  is  to  Paul  that  we 
are  indebted  for  this.  He  was  steeped  in  the 
Logos  Philosophy  of  the  Greek  which  he 
Hebraized,  and  through  the  impetus  of  the 
early  church  they  have  been  sent  down  to  us. 
Jesus  marks  one  of  the  great  eras  of  unfold- 
ment  in  the  conception  of  Omnipotence.  He 
placed  the  emphasis  upon  Fatherhood  and 
that  Fatherhood  made  Deity,  Human.  The 
Love  Principle  had  been  but  dimly  perceived 
before  him.  He  said  "  Our  Father.7'  Prior  to 
this  it  had  been  "  Heaven-Father."  Max 
Muller  tells  us  that  "Heaven-Father"  is 
the  term  for  Omnipotence  in  every  religion. 
"Heaven-Father"  embodies  conceptions  of 
Power  and  Creation;  "Our  Father,"  those 
of  Love  and  Providence. 

Jesus  also  developed  the  idea  of  duty  into 
that  of  brotherhood,  and  this  lifted  the  wor- 
ship of  Omnipotence  from  mere  external  cere- 
mony and  manifestations  of  fear  to  worship 
through  Love.  He  applied  the  Love  principle 
also  to  human  conduct  in  the  "New  Com- 
mandment"— "That  ye  love  one  another." 
Thus  may  Jesus  rightly  be  termed  the  founder 
of  New  Thought,  as  it  appears  during  nineteen 
centuries  of  human  evolution. 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  11 

MEDIEVAL    THOUGHT. 

During  the  Middle  Ages  many  thinkers  arose 
whose  teachings  gave  birth  to  what  is  known 
as  "  mysticism,"  systems  that  have  much  in 
common  with  the  idea  of  Omnipresence, 
and  the  conception  of  Realization  as 
held  by  New  Thought  teachers.  Mysticism  is 
a  recognition  of  unity  between  the  Soul  and 
its  Divine  origin.  It  is  the  practical  side  of 
the  saying  of  Jesus:  "My  father  and  I  are 
one."  This  phase  of  thought  came  into  exist- 
ence at  the  close  of  the  third  century.  It  de- 
veloped later  into  the  form  one  may  find  in 
Thomas  a'  Kempis  and  Madame  Guyon.  It 
is  a  condition  of  most  ardent  piety,  and  so 
warm  was  it  at  times  that  Jesus  and  the 
church  were  thought  of  as  one  thinks  of  wife 
or  mistress. 

GERMAN    PHILOSOPHERS. 

The  Mysticism  of  the  Middle  Ages  developed 
in  Germany  into  a  philosophy  which  changed 
at  that  time  the  current  of  thought,  and 
moulde-l  the  opinions  of  the  present.  One 
who  desires  to  become  familiar  with  these 
authors  are  recommended  to  read  Kant, 
Hegle,  Shelling,  Fichte,  Schopenhauer, 
and  especially  Goethe  and  the  poet 
Schiller.  In  these  can  be  found  many  of  the 
ideas  of  New  Thought  teachers. 

IDEALISM. 

But  in  the  English  philosopher  Berkeley  do 
we  find  the  greatest  resemblance.  Christian 
Science  in  an  imperfect  reflection  of  the  Ideal- 
ism of  Berkeley.  Berkeley,  Locke,  Descartes, 
Spinosa  and  Liebnitz  revived  the  Idealism  of 
Plato.  Zeno,  before  Plato,  fundamentally 


12  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

taught  the  same.  Idealism  holds  that  Ideas 
are  All.  The  external  universe  exists  only  as 
it  is  reflected  in  the  mind.  Matter  is  part  of 
that  which  is  not  the  Ego.  According  to 
Fichte  this  non-Ego  is  but  a  creation,  or  an 
idea  of  the  mind  of  the  Ego.  Hegle  finds  the 
only  reality  in  the  relation  that  exists  be- 
tween the  Ego  and  the  non-Ego.  The  specu- 
lative truth  that  lies  underneath  this  philoso- 
phy is  realized  Truth  in  New  Thought.  What 
they  intellectual^  perceived  is  now  a  constant 
reality  in  the  lives  of  thousands. 
All  interested  in  tracing  Idealism  farther  can 
find  in  any  encyclopedia  enough  to  make 
clear  our  indebtedness  to  these  philosophers. 
Rev.  F.  W.  Evans,  in  his  w^orks  upon  Mental 
Science,  shows,  by  his  quotations,  how  great 
was  his  indebtedness  to  them,  and  I  here 
most  gladly  acknowledge  my  own  philo- 
sophic debt  to  this  most  lucid,  strong,  and 
able  of  our  New  Thought  teachers. 

THE  NINETEENTH  CENTURY. 
I  will  trace  only  the  last  century  history  of 
Thought  evolution.  I  have  briefly  shown 
how  that  century  was  the  culmination  of  all 
the  thought  of  the  past.  This  new  century 
is  the  child  of  the  old.  New  Thought 
came  legitimately  from  the  loins  of  the 
Thought  with  which  the  nineteenth  century 
and  the  new  nation  opened.  The  new  Amer- 
ican nation  was  to  a  great  extent  the  child  of 
French  liberalism.  Liberal  ideas  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Nineteenth  Century  were  per- 
meating every  channel  of  the  national  life. 
The  national  birth  but  twenty-four  years 
previous  had  stimulated  thought  in  all  direc- 
tions. In  politics,  religion,  and  social  life, 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  13 

there  was  a  decided  American  atmosphere. 
The  discontent  with  the  old  had  culminated 
in  Thomas  Paine's  "Age  of  Reason,"  a  most 
thought  provoking  and  stimulating  book. 
All  who  are  today  emancipated  from  the 
rigid  theology  of  that  period  owe  a  great 
debt  to  him.  Political  liberty,  won  in  the 
eighteenth  century, opened  the  way  for  the  in- 
tellectual liberty  which  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury won.  Now  comes  the  last,  and  the  per- 
fect liberty  knocking  at  the  door  of  the  20th 
century.  This  liberty  is  Spiritual  Liberty,  a 
liberty  that  belongs  to  each,  as  a  child  of  the 
universe,  as  a  son  of  the  one  power;  or  as 
John  has  it,  "The  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God." 
It  is  for  this  liberty  that  New  Thought  stands. 

ABOLITIONISM. 

Out  of  the  awakened  conscience  and  intellect- 
ual perceptions  of  Truth  that  were  prevalent 
at  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century 
came  later  the  abolition  of  physical  slavery, 
and  with  it  the  emancipation  of  the  masses 
from  the  stern  and  unyielding  theology  which 
our  fathers  left  us.  Whenever  the  prophet  is 
needed  he  comes.  He  has  come.  He  has  had 
many  names.  Only  a  few  of  these  names  can 
I  mention.  To  give  them  all  would  be  to 
trace  the  mental  unfold ment  and  progress  of 
the  century.  I  can  only  follow  our  special 
thought.  The  history  of  a  nation  is  the  his- 
tory of  its  few  thinkers. 

CHANNING. 

William  Ellery  Channing  gave  in  Baltimore 
in  1818  his  great  address,  which  later  caused 
a  split  in  the  Calvinistic  churches,  dividing 
them  into  the  Unitarian  and  Trinitarian. 


14  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

This  movement  lifted  the  theologic  thought 
from  that  of  Justice,  which  Calvinism  em- 
phasized, to  that  of  Love,  which  Channing 
emphasizes.  "God  is  Love," -was  his  shibo- 
leth.  It  made  as  great  a  change  in  the  pop- 
ular thought  as  that  which  the  affirmation, 
"All  is  good,"  makes  today. 

EUAS  HICKS. 

Quakerism  had  been  an  important  factor 
during  the  18th  century  and  did  noble  work 
in  preparing  the  colonies  for  their  liberty.  In 
the  19th  century  Elias  Hicks  came,  and  with 
his  new  vision  helped  on  emancipation,  and 

fave  opportunity  lor  still  other  visions  that 
ave  culminated  in  the  present  awakening. 

UNIVERSAUSM. 

John  Murray,  through  his  doctrine  of  Uni- 
versal Salvation,  started  another  progressive 
movement  in  the  theological  field  which, 
though  ol  importance,  was  limited,  because 
he  held  to  Revelation,  and  as  Dr.  Livermore 
of  Meadville  Theological  School  taught  us, 
"Murray's  was  not  a  change  in  principle 
from  Calvinism.  Calvin  taught  that  all  were 
born  to  be  damned,  while  Murray  taught 
that  all  are  born  to  be  saved."  To  an  age 
that  believed  in  "Eternal  Damnation"  Mur- 
ray was  an  important  reaction,  and  no 
student  of  the  history  of  New  Thought  can 
afford  to  omit  his  life. 

EMERSON. 

In  1838  Emerson  gave  his  address  before  the 
divinity  students  of  Harvard  College.  That 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  15 

address  marks  an  era  in  the  intellectual  life  of 
America.  It  did  not  seem  important  then, 
but  from  the  vantage  ground  of  today  it  is 
seen  as  the  turning  of  the  wheel  that 
set  the  ship  of  progress  on  a  new  tack.  Emer- 
son was  at  the  center  of  intellectual  culture 
of  the  United  States,  and  there  started  a 
discussion  that  is  responsible,  more  than  any 
other  factor,  for  present  liberal  conditions. 
He  lifted  mankind  onto  the  plane  with  Jesus 
by  declaring  that  which  Jesus  was,  all  men 
are.  This  removed  the  barrier  to  human 
aspiration  and  opened  divine  expression  as  a 
possibility  for  all  men.  He  did  in  this  the 
greatest  work  of  any  one  person  in  the  whole 
century.  In  this  declaration  he  made  all  sub- 
sequent growth  possible.  For  this  reason  I 
attribute  to  Emerson,  more  than  to  any 
other  source,  the  credit  of  the  New  Thought 
movement.  Two  years  before  this  he  had 
written  "  Nature/'" in  which  the  Idealism  of 
Berkeley,  the  mysticism  of  the  middle  ages, 
the  obtuse  and  speculative  doctrines  of  the 
ancients,  were  all  winnowed,  and  the  pure 
wheat  stored  for  present  sowing.  From  that 
time  until  his  death  he  taught  along  the  lines 
be  therein  laid  down.  His  writings  are  a 
source  to  -which  can  be  traced  all  phases 
of  New  Thought.  Christian  Science  is  an 
exaggerated  and  contorted  exposition  of  the 
clear  and  pure  thought  of  Emerson.  Would 
my  reader  drink  at  the  original  fount,  I  ad- 
vise him  to  read  Emerson.  It  matters  little 
where  he  begins ;  but  if  he  starts  with  the 
essays  upon  " Self-Reliance"  and  "Compen- 
sation," and  "Over  Soul,"  he  will  drink  so 
deeply  that  all  other  authors  will  seem  tame 
commentaries  upon  him. 


16  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

PARKER. 

Following  Emerson  came  Theodore  Parker, 
His  contribution  was  the  placing  of  all  phe- 
nomena under  law.  As  Emerson  humanized 
Jesus,  Parker  rationalized  the  miracles.  He 
did  for  theology  what  Humboldt  did  for 
Philosophy.  Said  Humboldt :  "  The  Universe 
is  governed  by  Law."  Parker  forced  the 
theologians  to  accept  this  and  placed  the  so- 
called  Bible  Miracles  under  Natural  Law. 
His  sermon  upon  the  "  Permanent  and  the 
Transient  in  Christianity"  had  an  effect 
second  only  to  Emerson's  Divinity  School 
address. 

LAW  OF  CONSERVATION  AND 
CORRELATION  OF  FORCE. 

During  the  last  century-,  Science  and  Philoso- 
phy made  great  strides.  The  most  important 
contribution  during  the  first  half  was  the  ac- 
ceptance of  the  Law  ol  the  Conservation  of 
Force.  The  Law  is:  All  Force  (or  Energy)  is 
one;  is  fixed  in  quantity,  cannot  be  destroyed; 
but  it  can  be,  and  /s,  changed  from  one  mode  of 
manifestation  to  anothei .  Following  this,  came 
the  Principle  of  Evolution,  for  which  in  its 
present  clear  understanding  we  must  thank 
Spencer  and  Darwin,  though  at  about  the 
same  time  (1845)  Andrew  Jackson  Davis  in- 
dependantly  gave,  in  Principle,  the  same  in 
"Nature's  Divine  Revelations,"  though  he 
used  the  term  ''Progression."  Upon  this, 
the  Principle  of  Evolution  and  the  Law  of 
Conservation  of  Force,  rests  all  future  thought 
progress.  In  harmony  with  these,  we  are  be- 
ginning a  Science  of  Man  as  Mind,  and  devel- 
oping an  art  of  Mental  Healing. 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  17 

INVENTIONS 

There  was  never  a  century  within  the  historic 
period  so  prolific  in  invention  as  the  last. 
Each  improved  tool,  each  new  machine,  each 
change  for  the  better  in  ways  of  living,  creates 
a  new  environment,  and  thus,  by  Suggestion, 
causes  new  thoughts  and  thoughts  create  the 
man.  The  son  who  uses  an  improved  plow 
cannot  think  the  same  thoughts  nor  live  the 
same  life  his  father  did.  Inventions  and  dis- 
discoveries  created  conditions  for  the  present 
New  Thought. 

INFLUENCE  OF  GERMAN  THOUGHT. 

A  great  impetus  was  given  to  American 
thought  at  the  beginning  of  the  latter  part  of 
the  last  century  by  the  introduction  of 
German  Philosophy.  The  initiative  was 
taken  by  Rev.  Frederick  W.  Hedges,  who 
introduced  Kant  and  other  German  Philoso- 
phers. Margaret  Fuller  brought  Goethe  to 
notice  of  American  thinkers,  and  Emerson 
caused  Carlyle's  "Sartor  Resartus"  to  be  re- 
published  here.  Out  of  the  interest  these 
awakened,  arose  the  "Transcendental  Move- 
ment" which  movement  was,  in  reality,  the 
birth  of  the  present  various  movements  in  the 
liberal  thought  world,  and  in  Transcenden- 
talism we  may  properly  locate  the  birth  of 
New  Thought. 

TRANSCENDENTALISM. 

"In  the  second  quarter  of  the  Nineteenth  Cen- 
tury,  there  was  a  very  general  feeling  ot  un- 
rest in  religious  circles.  This  was  particularly 
observable  in  the  Eastern  States.  Groups  of 
individuals  here  and  there  broke  away  from 
former  beliefs  and  associations,  in  the  confi- 


18  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

dence  and  purpose  of  a  living  faith  that  rested 
on  a  better  foundation.  It  seems  hardly  pos- 
sible for  the  American  mind  to  hold  mere 
opinions  without  carrying  them  into  practice 
with  all  sincerity.  These  uprisings  often  took 
place  around  the  places  of  learning,  but  often  - 
er  at  places  remote  from  centers  and  amoner 
the  unlettered,  who  knew  only  the  Bible  and 
the  avocation  which  they  followed."  This 
gave  rise  to  many  peculiar  religious  sects.  The 
only  one  of  which  now  active  is  that  of  the 
Second  Advents.  "It  was  among  the  cultured 
men  and  women,  many  of  whom  had  been  ed- 
ucated at  Harvard,  that  a  movement  began 
which  represented  this  unrest  and  gave  it 
somewhat  of  form  and  consistency.  Unitar- 
ianism  had  opened  the  avenues  for  freedom  of 
thought,  and  now  naturally  arose  the  Trans- 
cendentalists  with  an  ideal  philosophy  which 
they  were  to  promote  as  the  inspiration 
and  prevailing  principle  of  every  day  life. 
Bright  stars  were  those  in  the  intellectual  sky 
who  started  the  movement.  They  lighted  the 
way  to  profounder  thought,  more  conscienti- 
ous activity,  and  more  general  usefulness.  The 
names  oi  Emerson,  Alcott,  The  Channings, 
Ripley,  Margaret  Fuller,  Frothingham,  Tho- 
reau,  and  their  associates,  gave  to  the  Ameri- 
can public  a  higher  conception  of  life,  its  na- 
ture and  aims.  They  placed  a  leaven  therein 
that  was  destined  to  continue  its  work  till  it 
transformed  the  whole  mass  of  American  So- 
ciety. Before  this  Transcendental  movement, 
America  had  no  literature  that  was  more 
than  local  and  a  copy  of  foreign  models.  From 
this,  America  derived  a  literature  that  wras  a 
new  creation,  indiginous  to  our  soil."  Here 
are  some  names  rightly  credited  to  that  move- 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  19 

ment,  as  their  thought  is  the  transcendental 
thought:  Lowell,  Alcott,  Thoreau,  Marga- 
ret Fuller,  C.  P.  Cranch,  William  Henry  Chan- 
ning,  Charles  A.Dana,  George  William  Curtis, 
Theodore  Parker,  David  A.  Wasson,  John 
Weiss,  T.  W.  Higginson,  Julia  Ward  Howe, 
Jones  Very,  Edna  D.  Cheney,  Frank  B.  San- 
born,  and  Horace  Greeley.  The  Transcendental 
period  was  the  formative  period  in  American 
thought-life.  To  it  we  may  trace  New  Thought. 

BROOK  FARM^ 

Out  of  Transcendentalism  arose  the  attempt 
at  community  life,  known  as  Brook  Farm. 
Here  met  great  thinkers,  and  what  if  the  ex- 
periment failed  for  want  of  financial  support? 
It  was,  in  its  scattering,  a  ripened  boll.  Its 
harvest  of  success  has  come  in  the  lives  of 
those  who  today  have  found  in  another  man- 
ner an  application  of  the  Truth  they  held. 
The  reader  is  referred  to  the  "History  of  the 
Brook  Farm,"  by  John  Thomas  Codman,and 
to  C.  B.  Frothingham's  "History  of  Trans- 
cendentalism," for  further  particulars  upon 
one  of  the  most  interesting  attempts  to  actu- 
alize the  Principal  of  Brotherhood. 

COMMUNITIES. 

Whoever  would  understand  thoroughly  the 
sources  of  present  thought,  and  would  trace 
the  evolution  of  ideas,  needs  to  become  more 
or  less  familiar  with  community  life  in  the 
United  States.  It  is  without  the  province  of 
this  essay  to  detail  that  history.  It  covers 
the  Shakers  and  the  Oneida  Communists, two 
of  the  successful.  Many  others  started  and 
many,  judged  by  the  world's  business  stand- 
ards, were  successful;  and  all  are  steps  toward 


20  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

more  perfect  realization  of  the  Principle  of 
Brotherhood.  This  Principle  is  now  finding 
expression  in  Trades  Unions,  Co-operative 
Associations,  Colonies,  Profit  Sharing,  Fra- 
ternal Societies,  and  Fraternal  Insurance 
Companies.  Perceptions  of  this  Principle  is 
also  stirring  the  world  tinder  the  many  phases- 
of  New  Thought. 

UNITARIANISM^ 

Unitarianism,  because  of  its  organization,  its 
persistence,  its  great  men,  its  liberality,  and  its 
truth,  is  the  great  intellectual  fountain  from 
whence  has  flowed  into  every  day  life  the  lat- 
est thought  along  all  lines  of  investigation. 
It  is  the  cultured  source  that  has  kept  sweet 
and  clean  the  progress  of  theological  thought. 
Despite  its  too  coldly  intellectual  attitude,  it 
has  held  the  religious  life  of  the  people  poised 
and  harmonious,  and  kept  the  church  in  touch 
with  science  and  philosophy.  It  has  been  the 
balance  wheel  in  the  mental  workshop,  con- 
serving all  that  was  good  and  true  in  all 
movements,  and  protecting  the  national  life 
in  the  excitement  of  fads  and  speculations 
which  arise  on  the  one  hand  and  the  advance 
of  skepticism  and  materialism  that  threatens 
on  the  other. 

In  Unitarianism,  we  find  the  nearest  approach 
on  the  intellectual  side  to  the  present  New 
Thought.  The  fundamental  principle  of  Uni- 
tarianism is  the  right  of  private  judgment.  It 
has  no  creed.  Each  person  is  expected  to 
teach  that  which  to  him  is  truth.  It  proclaims 
the  fundamental  propositions  of  Mental 
Science  and  Soul  Culture  in  its  affirmations  of 
"The  Indwelling  God"  and  "Divine  Nature  of 
Man."  "Man  is  not  a  fallen  but  a  rising 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  21 

creature,"  is  one  of  its  favorite  maxims.  ''Up- 
on every  thing  write,  for  the  service  of  man," 
says  James  Freeman  Clark.  This  denomina- 
tion is  not  sectarian.  From  Channing's  time 
to  the  present,  it  has  stood  for  all  that  is  free, 
beautiful,  and  serviceable  in  life.  Western 
Unitarianism  proclaims  itself  for  "Freedom, 
Fellowship,  and  Character,  in  religion."  There 
is  in  Truth  no  break  between  the  teachers  of 
Mental  Science  and  Unitarianism.  Every 
Unitarian  Society  intellectually  is  New- 
Thought.  The  two  movements  differ  only  in 
the  application  of  Truth  to  life.  Unitarians 
follow  the  old  method:— preach  and  educate. 
New  Thought  teaches:  Demonstrate  by  Living. 
I  preached  in  the  Unitarian  pulpit,  taught  on 
the  Spiritualist  platform, the  same  perceptions 
of  Truth  I  now  preach  under  "Soul  Culture," 
but  there  is  as  much  difference  between  my  then 
and  my  now,  as  there  is  between  a  student 
who  reads  his  books  011  astronomy,  and  never 
looks  at  the  stars;  one  who  reads  chemistry, 
and  never  goes  to  the  laboratory;  or  one  who 
studies  mathematics,  and  never  calculates  the 
price  of  material  at  so  much  per  pound.  It  is 
the  difference  between  knowing  one  is  a  Son  of 
God,  and  being  a  Son  of  God. 
I  preached  the  "Indwelling  God,"  and  grew 
sick  and  broken  down  in  body.  I  preached, 
"The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  within  you,"  and 
created  within  myself  the  kingdom  of  disease, 
pain,  worry,  anxiety,  fear,  and  heart-hunger. 
Honest  and  believing,  and  I  then  thought  I 
was  faithful.  But  amid  my  pain,  and  on  the 
verge  of  the  grave,  suddenly  there  came  in  my 
mind  this  question:  "If  God  "dwells  in  you, 
why  are  you  sick  and  in  pain?"  As  soon  as  I 
could  straighten  out  my  affairs,  or  better,  as 


22  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

soon  as,  through  suffering,  the  Indwelling 
God  straightened  them  out,  I  put  myself  into 
His  hands,  and  to  the  only  Living  God,  I  said: 
"Now,  God,  you  dwell  in  we  and  I  expect  you  to 
take  care  of  me.  I  will  take  no  more  thought  for 
my  body  than  I  did  when  I  was  a  babe.  You  cared 
for  it  then;  you  will  care  for  it  now.  I  thought  I 
knew  what  my  body  wanted.  I  find  I  do  not 
know  how  to  take  care  of  it.  I  surrender  it  to 
you.  I  let  you  have  perfect  control  of  my  life,  be- 
cause I  have  perfect  faith  in  you  " 
It  took  me  some  time  to  outgrow  old  habits 
of  thought.  Old  doubt  and  old  conditions 
would  come  back.  But  I  persevered  and 
gradually  my  body  assumed  the  conditions  of 
health.  "God  knows  his  business,"  I  would 
say  to  myself  when  things  seemed  to  go 
wrong.  In  time,  I  left  all  things  to  Him.  I 
have  never  faltered  in  this  surrender.  He  be- 
came "My  Silent  Partner!"  We  are  one  in  all 
Life's  manifestations.  He  attends  to  the  sub- 
conscious; I  to  the  conscious.  He  attends  to 
the  subjective;  I  to  the  objective  life.  All  is 
thus  ever  well  with  me.  Yet,  I  have  not 
changed  the  idea  which  I  had  of  God  while  in 
pulpit  or  on  platform.  I  have  not  changed 
my  ideas  of  man  as  Spirit.  I  have  simply 
learned  to  make  practical  what  I  then  intel- 
lectually held.  God  is  in  me  "an  ever  present 
help."  Where  once  I  felt  trouble,  or  pain,  or 
fear,  I  now  know  only  peace:  "For  Thou  art 
with  me;  Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff  they  comfort 
me."  I  trust,  as  the  child  the  parent,  the  One 
"in  whom  I  live  and  have  my  being."  I  know 
that  "The  Lord  is  my  shepherd,  "and  I  do  not 
want.  I  cannot  want  with  Him  as  provider. 
This  position  is  one  which  the  faithful  ones  in 
every  religious  belief  have  taken  in  all  ages. 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  23 

We  have  different  thoughts,  but  we  live 
the  same  life.  New  Thought  is  the  "Old 
Faith"  intellectually  applied  to  daily  thought 
and  activity. 

NEW    THOUGHT. 

New  Thought  is  logically  carrying  into 
daily  life  the  faith  of  the  church.  It  is  con- 
sciously applying  Truth  which  man  has  un- 
consciously applied  during  all  his  past.  Uni- 
tarianism  has  the  most  nearly  approached 
an  understanding  of  Truth.  New  Thought  is 
a  method  of  living  in  the  conscious  thought 
of  Divinity  with  the  same  spirit  of  faith 
which  consecrated  the  martyrs  of  old.  All  is 


good.  "  Though  he  sla3^  me,  yet  will  I  trust 
in  him."  "  I  will  fear  no  evil."  These  axioms 
are  to  us  as  clearly  self-evident  truth  and  as 
easily  applied  to  daily  life  as  are  those  of 
mathematics  or  chemistry. 
When  the  history  of  the  Emancipation  of  the 
Soul  from  fetters  of  fear,  authority,  and 
reason,  and  its  initiation  into  the  pure  air  of 
spirit  is  written,  many  names  on  the  roll 
of  Unitarian  teachers  will  be  among 
those  whom  posterity  will  delight  to  honor 
as  intellectual  and  noble  pioneers,  who  by 
thought  and  life  ushered  in  the  day  of  our  Re- 
demption, for  that  day  came  through 
demonstration  by  living  the  truth,  which 
they  proclaimed.  • 

FREE  RELIGIOUS  ASSOCIATIONS. 

Between  1865  and  1870  a  Free  Religious  So- 
ciety was  formed  in  Boston  with  which 
many  progressive  thinkers  and  scholars 
of  the  nation  were  associated.  Emerson  was 
a  member.  Among  the  most  active  members 


24  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

were  O.  B.  Fro thingham,  Francis  Ellingwood 
Abbott,  Edna  D.  Cheney,  Lucretia  Mott, 
Wm.  H.  and  Celia  Burleigh,  and  others  whose 
names  were  then  power  in  the  intellectual 
world. 

Its  organ  was  The  Index,  which  has,  in  power 
and  ability,  found  no  superior  among  liberal 
papers.  As  a  seed  sower,  as  a  movement  that 
made  conditions  for  the  present  New  Thought 
awakening,  this  was  very  important.  Its 
literature  teems  with  thoughts  which  are 
now  the  common  property  of  all  progressive 
men  and  women.  Its  limitations  lay  where 
the  Unitarian,  Universalist,  Liberal  League, 
and  Free  Thinkers  all  are  limited;  not  in 
thought,  but  in  demonstration.  The  Mental 
and  Christian  Scientists  and  all  other  phases 
of  New  Thought  have  added  little  to  the 
intellectual  perceptions  which  were  already 
the  stock  of  the  race  and  which  emanated 
from  multitudes  of  reformers  and  reform 
movements  prior  to  them,  but  these  latter 
movements  have  put  a  soul  into  the  intellect- 
ual mummy,  and  we  live  w^hat  the}7  thought. 
The  twentieth  century  uses  the  force  previous 
centuries  discovered.  We  now  use  Truth  as 
Power,  just  as  the  nineteenth  century  used 
steam.  The  Free  Religious  movement  was  a 
spring  far  up  the  mountain;  its  many 
streams  of  thought  have  found  the  sea  of 
daily  life,  and  are  now  an  important  part  of 
the  mightiest  movement  the  race  has  ever 
experienced.  A  movement  that  means  the 
abolition  of  pain,  poverty,  disease  and  death. 

RELIGIOUS    AWAKENINGS. 

The  nineteenth  century  saw  many  religious 

awakenings.    Many  prophets  sprang  up  de- 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  25 

claring  these  were  "the  last  days."  Miller- 
ism  was  the  most  important  ot  these.  Out  of 
that  has  come  the  Second  Advent  sect.  Then 
came  Mormanism.  Revivals  were  frequent, 
all  led  by  many  powerful  teachers. 
Those  who  proclaimed  the  "end  of 
the  world"  felt  the  oncoming  power, 
that  silent  growth  of  Soul  which  would  ulti- 
mately break  the  limitations  of  sense.  They 
interpreted  this  feeling  according  to  their  in- 
tellectual and  theological  training.  Psy- 
chometry  solves  these  riddles  of  feeling.  Com- 
ing events  are  realities  of  Spirit.  The  sensi- 
tive feels  them,  and  must  interpret  them 
according  to  his  intelligence,  just  as  Sweed- 
enborg  interpreted  his  visions.  Emerson  says 
that  Swedenbprg  "was  hampered  by  theo- 
logical limitations."  Andrew  Jackson  Davis 
was  free  from  limitations  of  education 
and  theology,  he  had  never  read  a  book  when 
he  gave  the  world  "Nature,  and  her  Divine 
Revelations."  This  freedom  preserved  Mod- 
ern Spiritualism  from  having  a  "founder." 
According  to  education  and  predeliction 
of  each  prophet,  have  been  interpreted  the 
millions  of  communications  from  the  decar- 
nate  and  from  the  sub-conscious.  In  like 
manner  came  visions,  inspirations  and 
interpretations  of  theologians  and  sectarians 
during  the  last  century.  From  the  vantage 
ground  of  the  present  we  readily  see  that 
these  awakenings  were  but  a  throe  in 
the  old  order,  giving  birth  to  the  New.  "The 
Second  Coming  of  Christ,"  and  "The  End  of 
the  World,"  are  now  realities  through  this 
application,  under  the  common  sense  and 
scientific  habits  of  a  developed  race,  of  an- 
cient thought  of  God  in  man.  Questions  that 


26  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

for  centuries  have  disturbed  the  minds  of  men 
concerning  their  Soul  and  the  future,  are  now 
settled  scientifically,  as  have  been  those  con- 
cerning the  world,  man,  and  his  origin. 
Every  religious  awakening  takes  its  place  as 
a  factor,  preparing  for  this  present  move- 
ment. Each  new  sect,  each  new  teacher,  each 
new  interpretation  of  the  Bible,  each  new 
convert  in  a  revival,  has  helped  it  on. 

SALVATION    ARMY* 

This  denomination  was  of  great  help  during 
the  last  years  of  the  closing  century  in  de- 
veloping the  Spirit  of  Equality  and  Brother- 
hood. Its  freedom  from  the  virus  of  respect- 
ability, its  spirit  of  helpfulness,  are  a  protest 
against  the  exclusiveness  and  heartlessness  of 
wealth  and  culture.  It  has  done  much  to 
bring  light  to  the  slums  of  society.  The  spirit 
of  New  Thought  is  one  with  theirs. 

HIGHER    CRITICISM* 

While  many  teachers,  authors  and  editors  in 
various  lines  of  New  Thought  are  woe- 
fully ignorant  of  the  results  of  Higher 
Criticism,  and  evince  this  by  their  use  of,  and 
by  new  interpretations  of,  the  Bible,  the  pub- 
lic mind  has  been  prepared  for  rational 
use  and  interpretation,  by  the  eman- 
cipation that  has  come  to  it  through  the 
labor  of  scholars  in  unearthing  its  historv. 
Today  more  is  known  of  the  origin 
of  the  books  of  the  Old  Testament,  and 
we  are  better  posted  on  ancient  Jewish 
history  than  were  the  Rabbis  at  the  time  of 
Jesus;  while  in  the  history  of  contempora- 
neous, and  still  more  ancient  nations,  we 
are  intelligent  where  they  were  totally  ignor- 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  27 

ant.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  did  the  hundreds 
who  are  today  basing  their  teachings  upon 
Biblical  interpretations,  know  the  real  place 
and  origin  of  the  Bible,  they  would  turn  their 
attention  to  more  profitable  discussions. 
The  Bible  is  valuable  as  literature ;  valuable 
as  a  record  of  the  religious  development  of  a 
peculiar  people ;  valuable  for  the  inspiration 
of  in  its  beautiful  passages,  and  as  a 
vehicle  through  which  the  aspiring  soul  may 
find  expression.  The  Psalms,  the  Prophets, 
the  Gospels,  will  live  as  long  as  the  human 
heart  is  human,  not  because  they  are  special 
revelations,  but  because  they  are  common 
revelation.  They  are  the  daily  expressions 
of  millions,  and  will  ultimately  be  the  expres- 
sion of  every  soul.  As  Homer,  and  Shakes- 
pere,  as  Burns  and  Whittier,  will  live  wher- 
ever they  voice  a  common  human  need,  so 
lives  the  winnowed  literature  of  the  past. 
The  Bible  so  lives. 

The  higher  criticism  will  have  conferred  its 
greatest  benefit,  when  those  who,  under  the 
impetus  of  an  unfolding  soul,  have  thrown 
off  limitations  of  authority  and  use  the 
Bible,  and  all  literature  as  means  of  express- 
ing the  faitn  of  a  common  humanity,  and  of 
one  God  in  that  humanit}'. 

POLITICAL   LIBERTY* 
ABOLITION    MOVEMENT. 
The  growth  of  Personal  Liberty,  as  mani- 
fested in  the  weakening  of  sectarian  fetters, 
is  also  manifest  in  the   breaking   of  party 
fetters.    When  I  was  a  lad  Whigs  and  Demo- 
crats were  born.    For  a  boy  to  vote  a  differ- 
ent ticket  from  his  father  and  grandfather 
was  to  brand  him  a  "  turn  coat,"  and  often 


28  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

caused  him  to  be  disinhehited.  The  Abolition 
Movement  was  the  first  great  disintegrating 
political  factor.  It  virtually  broke  up  the 
Whig  party  through  the  Free  Soil  movement. 
Ultimately,  out  of  many  fragments  of  old 
parties,  the  Republican  party  was  organ- 
ized. This  liberty  of  political  action  was 
necessary  before  we  could  be  free  today  to 
advocate  our  principle  of  Emancipation  from 
all  authority  and  the  right  to  follow  the  in- 
dividual conscience.  Luther  proclaimed  free- 
dom of  conscience  as  a  principle,  but  stopped 
at  his  limit.  Garrison  proclaimed  it  and 
stopped  at  his  limit.  Mrs.  Eddy  proclaimed 
it,  but  limits  it  to  her  revelation.  But  the 
Soul  goes  marching  on,  and  now  its  cry  is 
"  Truth  for  Authority,  but  no  authority  for 
Truth."  Its  shibboleth:  — I  AM  TRUTH. 
Every  civil,  theological,  sectarian,  social, 
political  fetter  that  has  been  broken  and 
was  a  step  on  the  way  to  this  New 
Thought  affirmation.  The  various  phases  of 
New  Thought  are  other  steps  toward  unified, 
scientific  and  practical  study  and  culture  of 
the  Soul.  Soul  Culture  comes  as  the  fruit  on 
the  tree  of  intellectual  development.  Man 
knows  he  IS,  not  has  a  Soul.  As  body,  intel- 
lect, and  aesthetic  ability  have  been  systemat- 
ically trained,  so  this  century  will  see 
spiritual  faculties  cultivated.  Man,  as  Soul, 
will  pass  beyond  disease,  poverty,  property 
and  death;  will  learn  to  live  the  immortal  life 
here  and  now.  Will  never  think  of  any  other 
condition  than  that  which  he  can  enjoy  while 
living  in  a  body  as  sensible  as  that  he  now 
has.  No  matter  of  what  vibrations  com- 
posed, he  will  not  die  to  possess  that  body. 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  29 

ANIMAL    MAGNETISM. 

Early  in  the  last  century  there  was  an  in- 
creased interest  in  the  discoveries  of  Mesmer 
who,  during  the  last  quarter  pi  the  preceding 
century,  had  found  that  certain  persons  could 
be  effected  by  what  he,  at  first,  thought  were 
forces  from  the  magnet,  but  which  later 
he  thought  were  magnetic  forces  of  the 
operator.  Later  investigation  has  proven 
the  power  he  and  his  contemporaries 
called  "  Animal  Magnetism  "to  be  but  the 
power  of  Suggestion.  All  that  was  included 
in  past  investigation  under  the  terms  "  Mes- 
merism," "Animal  Magnetism,"  "Magnetic 
Healing,"  "Electro Biology,"  ';Statuvolence," 
and  "Psychology,"  is  now  included  under 
the  term  "Suggestion." 

THE  LAW  OF  SUGGESTION. 

Man  has  made  no  more  important  discovery 
than  this  law.  It  opens  an  era  in  human 
progress  that  presages  the  realization  of  that 
New  Civilization  which  prophets  have  fore- 
seen and  sages  foretold.  This  Law  is  the  one 
Principle,  present  in  every  New  Thought 
movement.  The  Law  is  stated  thus— I  AM 
THAT  WHICH  I  THINK  I  AM.  Every 
person  is  controlled  by  his  thoughts.  The 
mental  attitude  determines  conditions  of 
body  and  environment.  The  secret  of  all  in- 
spiration,instruction  and  healing,  lies  in  know- 
ing how  to  cause  friend,  patient  or  pupil  to 
think  that  which  will  in  him  produce  desired 
conditions.  When  one  has  caused  a  change 
in  the  mental  attitude  of  another  he  has  done 
all  he  can  do  for  him.  That  other  will  mani- 
fest in  conduct  that  which  he  has  mentally 
accepted.  Suggestion  gives  the  key  to  the 


30  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

religious,  political,  social,  medical  and  indus- 
trial phenomena  of  life.  Literature  is  plente- 
ous upon  this  subject;  to  it  I  refer  the  reader. 
I  especially  recommend  my  books  as  contain- 
ing an  up-to-date  explanation  of  the  Law 
and  its  operation.  From  the  study  of  Sug- 
gestion under  other  names  has  sprung  every 
phase  of  New  Thought.  Though  it  is  just  to 
say  that  few  teachers  are  aware  of  the 
fundamental  Principle  or  know  the  secret  of 
their  success. 

PROGRESSIVE  FRIENDS. 

These  were  of  set  of  "comeouters"  from  the 
Quakers  who  held  yearly  meetings  in  West 
Chester,  Pa.  They  comprised  a  bod}'  of  free- 
thinking,  progressive  people,  wno  were 
a  great  leaven  in  American  thought  and  a  fac- 
tor of  power  in  that  evolution  which  ultimat- 
ed  in  New  Thought. 


THE  CIVIL 
Next  to  Emerson,  Unitarianism,  and  Spirit- 
ualism, the  Civil  War  was  the  most  potent 
power  in  breaking  down  partition  walls  be- 
tween the  sects  and  giving  a  free  field  to 
thought.  This  war  was  the  culmination  of  a 
long  struggle,  closing  with  the  eman- 
cipation of  the  black  slave;  it  also  freed 
the  masses  from  the  prejudices  of  sect  and 
section.  Suffering  in  a  common  love  of  coun- 
try made  each  person  more  tolerant  of 
others'  opinions  and  made  more  real  that 
Ideal  of  Brotherhood  lyingg  in  the  Declara- 
tion and  the  first  three  words  of  the  Con- 
stitution: WE,  THE  PEOPLE.  Like  a  fire 
over  a  wood  lot,  the  war  burned  rubbish  and 
left  a  soil  ready  for  the  sprouting  of  new 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  31 

seeds.  The  returning  soldier  brought  home 
that  tolerance  which  comes  only  from  com- 
radship  in  danger. 

VASTNESS  OF  OUR  COUNTRY 
AND  ITS  NEW  SETTLEMENTS^^ 
Nowhere,  save  in  the  United  States,  could  the 
movements  which  preceeded  New  Thought 
have  been  possible.  The  breaking  of  old  as- 
sociations by  removal  as  pioneers,  pro- 
duced a  mental  condition  ripe  to  impulses 
that  arise  in  the  sub-conscious;  consequent^ 
we  find  every  new  settlement  fertile  in  new 
ideas.  Constant  movement  westward  kept 
public  sentiment  pliable.  New  problems  were 
ever  arising  for  social  and  political  solution. 
This  gave  an  intellectual  impetus  to  the  new 
nation,  and  such  men  as  Lincoln  and  Doug- 
lass, and  hundreds  of  others,  were  developed 
as  were  the  orators  and  artists  of  Greece,  for 
these  can  flourish  only  under  spontaneous  ac- 
tion ot  the  Soul  such  as  Greece  had  when  she 
was  emerging  from  barbarism  to  civiliza- 
tion. Conformity  kills  spontaneity  and 
inspiration.  In  the  new  settlements,  this 
spontaneity  was  active.  Now  that  the  tide 
of  emigration  has  been  stopped  by  the  Pacific, 
Soul  still  marches  on,  and  backward  goes  the 
tide;  the  new  century  sees  the  breaking  of 
new  soil  for  Liberty.  A  new  exodus  is  neces- 
sary and  it  comes.  Liberty  of  Spirit  comes 
in  the  twentieth  centur}-  as  liberty  of 
thought  came  in  the  ninteenth.  To  every 
pioneer  from  Ptymouth  Rock  to  Golden  Gate, 
we,  as  spiritual  pioneers,  owe  a  debt  of  grat- 
itude for  that  condition  of  race— thought  and 
public  opinion  that  makes  our  New  Thought 
acceptable.  All  is  Mind,  and  All  is  Good. 


32  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

THEOSOPHY^ 

This  phase  of  thought  cannot  rightly  be  term- 
ed a  part  of  the  New  Thought  movement.  It 
is  more  oi  a  side  track  for  those  who,  under 
the  impetus  of  the  age,  have  reacted  from  the 
stress  of  modern  scientific  investigation  and, 
from  desire  to  rest  upon  something,  are  seek- 
ing that  old  staff:— Authority.  It  is  an  at- 
tempt to  graft  upon  the  thought  and  life  of 
this  era  the  childish  speculations  of  an  early 
people,  in  regard  to  the  origin  and  destiny  of 
man. 

While  the  theosophists  have  much  in  com- 
mon with  all  forms  of  liberal  thought  their 
peculiar  dogmas  of  Reincarnation  and  Karma 
distinctly  isolate  them  from  every  other 
phase  and  make  of  them  a  distinctive  class, 
which  may  well  be  called  a  sect. 
Their  teachers  make  too  great  a  claim  for  the 
movement,  by  making  it  cover  the  work  of 
early  liberals" and  especially  that  done  by  the 
Unitarians.  Their  doctrine  of  Reincarnation 
is  a  speculation  based  upon  unproved  prem- 
ises. It  is  the  easiest  way  to  account  for 
much  of  the  phenomena  of  existence,  but  they 
who  first  taught  it,  also  accounted  in  the 
same  easy  way  for  the  movement  of  the 
heavenly  bodies  and  for  the  origin  of  earth 
and  man.  As  these  phases  of  speculation 
have  been  outgrown  this  should  be. 
Karma  is  also  a  childish  way  of  righting  the 
seeming  injustice  of  life.  Its  error  lies  in  the 
claim  that  justice  is  not  done  here  and  now. 
Simultaneously  with  every  thought  comes  its 
effect.  The  Law  of  Causation,  which  lies  at 
the  root  of  all  scientific  investigation,  is  not 
the  law  of  Karma,  for  that  delays  effect  to  a 
future  reincarnation.  To  modern  thought, 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  33 

Cause  and  Effect  are,  in  the  words  of  Emer- 
son, "Two  sides  of  one  fact."  He  also  calls 
them  "  Chancellors  of  God."  They  cannot  be 
separated  in  time  the  one  millionth  part  of  a 
second.  The  difference  between  Theosophy 
and  New  Thought  is  that  the  latter  deals  in 
Demonstrated  Truth,  while  former  is  based  on 
Speculative  Philosophy.  New  Thought  deals 
with  the  now;  Theosophy  with  unthinkable 
duration,  both  past  and  future.  New  Thought 
is  practical  and  teaches  one  to  live  now,  to 
make  heaven  now,  and  inspires  man  to  be 
now  all  that  it  is  possible  for  him  to  be  by 
teaching  him  that  he  is  a  tree  agent  in  shaping 
his  life. 

Despite  the  fact  that  there  is  much  in  com- 
mon between  these  two,  and  that  many  of 
New  Thought  teachers  accept  these  specula- 
tions, it  is  safe  to  say  that  Reincarnation 
and  Karma  will  never  be  the  accepted  solu- 
tion of  the  problems  of  life  by  scientific  minds 
nor  become  part  of  the  future  Science  of 
Mind.  Every  known  fact  and  every  principle 
of  the  evolution  philosophy  disproves  them. 
Theosophy  cannot  rightly  be  credited  with 
giving  an}^  great  impetus  to  liberal  thought 
in  America.  It  has  proven  itself  a  ratchet 
upon  the  mental  machinery  of  the  nation, 
by  compellng  that  which  might  have 
been  a  too  rapid  progress  in  the  realm  of 
ideas  to  modify  its  speed,  thus  giving  time 
for  reconsideration  and  correction.  It  has 
furnished  a  resting  place  for  the  leaner  upon 
Author^;  for  the  conservative  and  the  timid. 
Beyond  this,  it  is  more  of  a  fad  than  a  faith. 
It  can  never  become  the  faith  of  the  warm 
hearted  and  religious,  nor  meet  the  demand  of 
modern  mind  for  clearness  and  practicability. 


34  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

I  am  aware  of  the  claims  made  for  its  num- 
bers and  power  which,  if  true,  does  not  count; 
for  one  with  truth  is  more  than  millions  re- 
peating ancient  error.  Remove  from  it  these 
two  dogmas  and  its  peculiar  nomenclature 
for  common  mental  states  and  common  phe- 
nomena and  we  find  but  the  commonplace 
thought  of  all  liberal  teachers. 

PHRENOLOGY. 

This  phase  of  thought  has  an  important 
place  in  the  development  of  the  present  move- 
ment. It  cannot  yet  rightly  pose  as  a  science, 
but  it  has  important  data  for  the  Builder  ot 
the  future.  It  is  a  fine  stud}r  of  Mind,  based 
upon,  as  yet,  non-established  theories.  Behind 
all  its  claims  however  rests  the  fact  that  size 
and  texture  of  brain  accompany  certain 
human  tendencies.  Its  principal  error  lies  in 
giving  too  much  power  to  matter.  When 
asked  if  I  do  not  believe  in  phrenology  I  an- 
swer: "  Yes,  in  so  far  as  it  recognizes  that  I 
build  my  head  and  can  control  it.  In  so  far 
as  it  tells  me  that  I  am  controlled  by  my 
head,  I  deny  it.  I  build  my  head,  and  it,  like 
every  other  organ  of  my  body,  is  subject  to 
my  will  and  desire.  I,  the  Ego,  made,  and  I, 
the  Ego,  may  control  the  head,  even  to  chang- 
ing, first,  the  texture  of  brain,  and  next,  the 
shape  of  the  skull  in  which  I  carry  my  brain." 
Phrenology  is  a  great  advance  upon  earlier 
theories.  It  has  been  and  will  continue  to  be 
a  great  help  to  Mental  Science.  To  Spurz- 
heim  and  Gall  the  world  owes  a  great  debt, 
and  it  is  also  deeply  indebted  to  the  travel- 
ling phrenologist  who  has  been  preparing  the 
field  for  New  Thought,  by  giving  the  common 
mind  a  nomenclature  through  which  the 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  35 

present  teacher  can  make  his  thought  intelli- 
gible. 

MODERN    SPIRITUALISM. 

Next  to  Emerson  I  am  inclined  to  give  to 

Modern    Spiritualism    credit    of    being   the 

freatest  factor  in  the  evolution  of  New 
h  ought.  Unitarianism  gave  it  intellectual 
power,  but  the  spiritual,  the  Soul  recogni- 
tion, came  from  Spiritualism.  This  wide- 
spread movement  prepared  the  way  among 
the  masses  for  a  practical  work,  based  upon 
the  recognition  of  man  as  Spirit.  This  work 
is  now  done  by  both  Christian  Science  and 
New  Thought.  The  phenomena  at  Hydes- 
ville  awakened  an  interest  unequalled  by  any 
other  phenomena  in  modern  times.  It  set  in 
operation  all  the  present  methods  of  psychic 
investigation,  and  it  may  be  said  that  all  the 
theories  of  Man,  held  during  the  first  half  of 
last  century,  have  been  modified  as  the  result  ot 
the  Hydeville  raps.  Teachers  of  Spiritualism 
have  gone  into  almost  every  school  district ; 
its  literature  has  whitened  the  world  like  a 
winter's  snow  the  landscape,  while  mediums 
with  their  words  of  comfort  have  been  in 
every  home.  It  would  have  been  the  might- 
iest of  miracles  if  it  had  not  met  antagonism 
in  conservative  circles — did  not  disturb  many 
old  institutions  and  awaken  many  prejudices 
into  active  opposition.  Seeing  that  it  came 
to  a  common  humanity,  it  would  have  also 
been  a  mighty  miracle  if  it  had  not  also  oper- 
ated, like  all  other  phases  of  truth,  upon  the 
weaknesses  of  that  common  humanity  and 
attracted  to  it  much  that  has  proven  to  be 
error,  and  some  that  is  not  in  accord  with 
good  morals.  But  this  is  also  necessarily 


36  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

true  of  every  awakening.  Truth  must  use 
the  men  and  women  it  finds,  and  through  ex- 
pression unfold  them  to  a  higher  plane.  The 
theologian,  the  sectarian,  and  the  moralist, 
have  never  been  the  friends  of  progress. 
"Nothing  so  good  as  the  old,"  is  their  cry. 
But  despite  all  that  a  calm  judgment,  after 
its  fifty-eight  ,  years  progress,  can  find  to 
condemn,  the  fact  remains  that  it  has  proven 
itself  to  be  the  greatest  movement  for  good 
of  all  the  nineteenth  century,  and  has  given 
birth  to  two  others  destined  to  be  still  more 
powerful  than  itself.  Rev.  R.  Heber  Newton 
says  that  for  many  centuries  the  only  ideas- 
that  have  modified  human  conceptions  of  the 
Hereafter  have  come  from  Swedenborg  and 
Modern  Spiritualism.  It  has  compelled  a 
change  in  the  popular  opinion  of  death,  an- 
gels, heaven,  hell,  and  the  resurrection,  and 
forced  a  rational  philosophy  into  the  pulpits. 
In  the  sensational  spirit  which  the  Hydeville 
raps  awakened  the  grander  and  more  beauti- 
ful, and  the  most  practical  side  of  this  move- 
ment, has  been  overlooked,  save  by  a  few 
teachers,  societies,  journals,  until  the  move- 
ment under  the  name  Spiritualism  is  almost 
wholly  given  over  to  phenomenalism. 
By  taking  advantage  of  the  credulity  and 
ignorance  of  the  masses  many  charlatans 
have  stolen  its  livery,  to  serve  the  selfish  pro- 
pensities of  man,  using  here,  just  as  they  have 
in  all  ages  and  times,  the  semblance  of  truth 
for  selfish  ends.  For  this  reason  the  philo- 
sophical and  practical  side  of  the  movement 
has  separated  itself  from  the  merely  phenom- 
enal and  become  the  inspiration  of  NEW 
THOUGHT. 


x 

IVER31TY 
NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  37 

ANDREW  JACKSON  DAVIS. 
All  New  Thought  ideas,  save  those  that  make 
man  conscious  that  he  IS  spirit  here  and 
NOW,  were  born  before  the  Hydeville  raps, 
as  noted  before  of  Unitarianism.  They  have 
been  repeated  by  Spiritualists  during  all  the 
years  of  its  existence.  In  1845,  three  years 
belore  the  Hydeville  raps,  in  the  person 
and  Revelations  of  Andrew  Jackson  Davis, 
was  Modern  Spiritualism  really  born.  And 
to  him  we  may  honestly  date  New  Thought 
birth,  though  present  " founders"  of  systems 
of ' '  Healing ' '  and  teaching,  and  many  teach- 
ers of  various  phases  of  New  Thought,  are 
not  aware  of  the  source  from  whence,  by 
evolution,  their  ideas  sprang. 
Davis  was  at  that  time  a  lad  of  fourteen 
years.  While  in  mesmeric  trance  he  gave 
those  lectures  which  were  later  published 
under  title  of  "  Nature  and  her  Divine  Revela- 
tions." This  book  was  followed  up  by 
twenty -nine  others,  which  make  a  library 
that  no  student  of  the  "Progress  of  Ideas" 
can  ignore.  In  them  can  be  traced  the  hered- 
ity of  every  New  Thought  proposition.  Davis 
called  his  system  "  The  Harmonial  Philoso- 
phy." The  difference  between  this  and  New 
Thought  lies  principally  in  the  emphasis 
which  is  now  placed  upon  the  individual  soul 
in  its  independence  from  all  external  control, 
its  unity  with  the  One,  and  its  power  to  build 
its  body  into  health  and  keep  its  environ- 
ments to  its  desire  through  right  thinking. 
But  Davis,  in  teaching  the  Divinity  of  Man 
and  Nature,  virtually  taught  all  this.  Later 
teachers  have  brought  into  clearer  light  the 
truth  he  proclaimed.  Methods  of  application 
are  many,  but  Truth  is  One.  Davis  started 


38  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

Philosophical  Spiritualism  and  this  is  so  near 
New  Thought  that  I  am  not  able  to  "Draw  a 
line  between  the  two  where  God  has  not." 
The  Affirmation  of  Phenominal  Spiritualism 
is:  I  live  as  Spirit  after  the  death  of  my  body. 
The  Affirmation  of  New  Thought  is:  Man  is 
Spirit,  here  and  now.  The  Affirmation  of  Soul 
Culture  is:  /  live  the  Spiritual  life,  here  and  no\v. 
Davis  writes  and  speaks  in  what  he  terms  the 
"Superior  condition"  which  is  the  condition 
of  all  inspired  persons.  Tennyson  tells 
us  that  he  reached  this  condition  by  re- 
peating his  own  name  till  he  passed  into  a 
state  he  termed  "the  perfection  of  individual- 
ity." New  Thought  people  arrive  at  it  by 
concentration  under  some  Affirmation.  It  is 
termed,  "Going  into  the  Silence."  A  better 
term  is,  "Listening  to  the  Silence."  When 
present  prejudices  and  sectarian  feelings  are 
lost  in  a  love  of  Truth,  the  meed  will  be 
awarded  to  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  and  An- 
drew Jackson  Davis  as  the  greatest  prophets 
of  the  New  Civilization  which  is  a  Brother- 
hood, or,  as  Davis  termed  it:— An  Arabula. 

CHRISTIAN  SCIENCES 
A  very  important  Thought-movement,  found 
at  the  beginning  of  this  century,  is  named 
"Christian  Science."  To  Mary  Baker  Eddy 
rightly  belongs  the  credit  of  originating  both 
the  name  and  the  interpretation  of  Scripture 
adopted  by  this  sect.  Long  prior  to  her  ad- 
vent, others  had  used  the  same  Principles  for 
healing  purposes.  Emerson  had,  long  before, 
taught  the  same  truth  and  mesmerists  of  all 
names  and  grades,  magnetic  healers  and  faith 
curers,  had  all  applied  it.  She  instituted  a 
method  based  upon  a  peculiar  interpretation 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  39 

of  the  Bible.  The  Principle  of  Suggestion  is 
the  foundation.  Most  of  her  philosophy  is 
the  common  stock  of  all  liberal  people,  and, 
prior  to  her  advent,  had  been  much  more 
clearly  taught  as  spiritualism. 
Christian  Scientists  are  restricted  to  a  read- 
ing, and  a  study  of  the  Bible,  and  Mrs.  Eddy's 
interpretation  of  it  in  her  book,  "Science  and 
Health,"  and  to  the  official  publications  of 
the  "Mother  Church"  in  Boston.  No  lattitude 
is  allowed  for  individual  opinion.  Mrs.  Eddy, 
in  the  Preface  to  the  48th  edition  of  "Science 
and  Health, "prin ted  in  1890,  says:  "The  first 
edition  of  'Science  and  Health'  was  published 
in  1875."  In  the  first  chapter  of  this  edition, 
she  says:  "In  the  year  1866,  I  discovered 
metaphysical  healing  and  named  it, 'Christian 
Science.'  "  All  who  wish  to  know  her  system 
and  her  interpretation  of  Scripture,  are  re- 
fered  to  the  publications  of  this  sect.  Most 
of  the  writings  of  these  people  are  repellant 
from  their  dogmatism  and  authoritive  man- 
ner of  presentation.  They  are  persist  ant 
proselytes.  All  lectures  and  books  are  made 
to  accord  with  the  teachings  of  "Science  and 
Health."  That,  in  an  age  of  freedom,  so  large 
a  following  can  be  obtained  to  so  sectarian  a 
movement,  is  a  strange  psychological  fact 
which  can  be  accounted  for  only  upon  the 
propensity  men  have  to  lean  on  authority, 
and  by  recognizing  that  the  spirit  which  led 
men  to  follow  a  "Thus  said  the  Lord,'  in  time 
of  Moses,  still  controls  the  masses.  Wise  men 
do  not  submit  to  limitations.  "Unchain 
Truth,"  is  the  cry  of  Col.  Sabin  who  has  come 
out  from  that  sect  to  a  broader  field  of 
thought. 
Christian  Science  is  a  necessary  step  in  the 


40  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

evolution  of  the  race.  Through  it  many  will 
pass  from  the  tyrrany  of  ecclesiastic  dogma 
to  that  of  "Science  and  Health,"  and  finding 
this  too  narrow  will  pass,  as  thousands 
already  have,  into  the  freedom  of  New 
Thought. 

Mrs.  Eddy's  basic  proposition  is  pure  Ideal- 
ism. Mind  is  All.  In  Chapter  X  of  her  book 
she  gives  the  " Platform  of  Christian  Science." 
It  consists  of  twenty  planks  none  of  which 
are  original.  Was  there  allowed  a  free  inter- 
pretation they  would  not  be  obnoxious. 
But  Mrs.  Eddy  is  the  Supreme  Court  and 
gives  her  own  interpretation,  thus  imprison- 
ing the  intellect  of  her  followers.  This  is  the 
distinction  between  Christian  Science  and 
New  Thought,  for  Christian  Science  is  not 
New  Thought,  and  is  not  to  be  classed  among 
New  Thought  movements.  Because  the  pop- 
ular conception  so  places  it,  I  devote  this 
space  to  it. 

Christian  Science  is  fifteenth  centurj-  in  its 
methods.  It  follows  the  theologic  tendency 
in  its  dominion  over  the  human  will.  It 
limits,  as  did  Moses,  inspiration.  The  God  of 
Mrs.  Eddy  is  Mohammedan  in  its  exclusive- 
ness.  The  author  of  "Science  and  Health" 
claims  to  speak  from  the  authority  of  "the 
Spirit,"  and  her  word  is  final.  What  she  says 
must  not  even  be  discussed.  The  liberty  of 
private  judgment  is  the  gift  of  the  Reforma- 
tion. Here  it  is  denied  with  all  the  power  of 
a  Tetzel  or  a  Diet  of  Worms.  The  Truth  in 
Christian  Science  is  the  common  inheritance 
of  Humanity.  Inspiration  is  still  common. 
Well  says  Samuel  Longfellow : — 

Lord,  thy  Word  abideth  ever, 
Inspiration  is  not  sealed; 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  41 

Answering  unto  man's  endeavor, 
Truth  and  Right  are  still  revealed. 

That  which  came  to  ancient  sages, 
Greek,  Barbarian,  Roman,  Jew, 

Written  in  the  heart's  deep  pages, 
Shines  today  forever  new. 

The  power  of  Authority  over  the  Soul  is 
broken.  Mrs.  Eddy's  proclamation  looks  like 
.another  attempt  to  corner  Truth,  for  she 
says,  on  page  12  of  "Science  and  Health": 
"No  human  tongue  or  pen  has  suggested  the 
contents  of  "Science  and  Health,"  or  can 
tongue  or  pen  overthrow  it." 
Christian  Scientists  heal  thousands.  Thev 
cure  a  much  larger  proportion  of  their 
patients  than  do  doctors  of  all  schools.  Their 
only  mistake  lies  in  denying  the  same  power 
to  others  and  in  limiting  the  One  Universal 
Life  to  one  method  and  to  one  person's  con- 
ception of  Supreme  Power.  They  have  Truth 
but  not  all  ot  truth.  They  have  a  method, 
but  not  all  possible  methods.  They  heal,  but 
in  no  greater  proportion  than  other  Thought- 
Healers.  All  healing  is  one,  for  the  origin  of 
Life  is  One.  Neither  Life  nor  Healing  depends 
upon  our  conceptions  of  Truth  anymore  than 
our  being  hit  with  lightning  depends  upon 
our  knowledge  of  electricity.  All  who  are  in 
the  lightning's  path  are  hit,  be  they  wise  or 
ignorant  in  electric  lore.  So  all  who  obey 
•conditions  of  health  have  it,and  heal,  no  mat- 
ter what  are  their  opinions  of  the  power. 
Mind  is  one  in  all  men.  Thought  is  Power, 
Suggestion  in  the  Law.  Whenever  in  sin- 
cerity one  thinks  Health,  he  is  healed. 
These  two  streams,  New  Thought  and 
Christian  Science,  will  both  continue. 
As  long  as  man  is  weak  and  seeks  for  assist- 
ance outside  himself  Christian  Science  will 


42  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

endure  in  some  form  and  under  some  name. 
As  long  as  man  is  intellectually  free  New 
Thought  will  be  his  Philosophy  and  control 
his  life.  Freedom  and  authority  are  repre- 
sented by  the  two  systems  and  are  now,  as 
never  before,  brought  face  to  face  in  a  practi- 
cal work  in  a  scientific  and  inventive  age  and 
in  a  free  land.  Give  them  both  a  fair  field. 
Between  the  two  the  Soul  goes  marching  on. 
and  never  long  submits  to  limitations.  Truth 
finds  a  way  of  expression  or  makes  one.  New 
Thought  will  make  ten  thousand  channels 
and  will  reach  the  sea.  The  other,  like  all  or- 
ganized power,  must  ultimately  die.  New 
Thought  will  never  organize.  Its  genus  is 
Freedom.  There  will  come  a  unity  of  action. 
Under  it  all  will  come  to  a  Realization  of 
Truth,  and  societies  of  expression  will  natur- 
ally crystallize,  not  to  think  alike,  but  to  work 
together  for  the  good  of  all.  Both  move- 
ments are  now  disintegrating  old  institu- 
tions. The  one  whose  watchword  is  "  with- 
out limitations"  will  redeem  the  world. 

MENTAL  SCIENCE. 

Mrs.  Helen  Wilmans  of  Sea  Breeze,  Florida, 
is  rightly  the  founder  of  this  branch  of  New 
Thought.  She  terms  it  Mental  Science.  It  is 
based  upon  the  principles  of  Idealism.  She 
differs  from  many,  and  from  myself, 
through  the  ignoring  of  psychic  phenomena, 
rejecting  all  conception  of  spirit  and 
claiming  all  phenomena  to  be  mental.  She 
recognizes  no  communication  except  between 
minds  incarnate,  and  seems  to  limit 
the  individual  entirely  to  his  own  mentality. 
Man  is  Mind,  is  her  Affirmation,  and  she  con- 
sistentlv  follows  the  Affirmation  in  all  her 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  43 

writings,  but  seems  to  limit  mind  entirely  to 
the  thinking  function.  Her  paper,  Freedom, 
her  books  and  lessons  have  been  a  most 
important  factor  in  New  Thought.  She  has 
laid  a  foundation  broad  and  deep  for  future 
builders.  She  is  a  most  successful  healer  by 
absent  treatment  and  cures  90  per  cent  of 
her  patients.  Her  two  books  of  power  are 
"  Conquest  of  Poverty  "and  "  Conquests  of 
Death."  She  is  a  strenuous  advocate  of 
earthly  immorality.  These  books  will  carry 
her  name  downtoposterit}^.  She  has  suffered, 
and  at  this  writing  is  still  suffering,  civil 
persecution  through  antagonisms  aroused 
by  her  absent  treatments.  All  reform- 
ers have  had  similar  persecutions,  and 
Truth  the  more  abounds  because  of  it. 
Freedom,  Mrs.  Wilmans'  paper,  is  a  weekly, 
published  at  Sea  Breeze  at  $2.00  a  year. 
At  present  writing,  owing  to  governmental 
interferance,  it  is  suspended,  I  trust  but 
temporarily. 

DIVINE  SCIENCES 

This  phase  of  New  Thought  was  instituted  by 
Mrs.  M.  E.  Cramer,  of  San  Francisco.  It  is 
midway  between  Christian  Science  and  New 
Thought.  It  has  New  Thought  freedom  with 
Christian  Science  reliance  upon  Bible.  Yet 
Mrs.  Cramer  claims  no  authoritative  inter- 
pretation. She  has  a  rational,  common- 
sense  philosophy  of  life.  This  is  her  state- 
ment of  Truth  :— 

There  can  be  but  one  All.  This  All  in  All  is  God,  and  God 
manifest. 

One  is  the  number  of  Unity. 
Unity  is  forever  the  state  or  nature  of  one. 
God  being  Infinite,  there  can  be  no  finite.    He  is  all  of 


44  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

i 

Being,  Creative  action  and  Creation.  "I  and  my  Father 
are  one! " 

God  is  Spirit;  all  of  Life,  Love,  Truth,  Substance,  Soul, 
and  Intelligence;  all  of  Knowledge,  all  of  Power,  all  of 
Presence.  Like  expresses  like;  hence  Man  is  Spirit,  Life, 
Love,  Truth,  Substance,  Soul,  Knowledge,  Power,  and 
Presence,  the  exact  image  and  likeness  of  Him,  co-eternal 
and  co-equal  with  Him. 

Nothing  can  be  manifest  that  is  not  before  it  is  manifest. 
As  God  alone  is,  it  is  God  who  manifests  in  an  ever-pres- 
ent creation. 

That  which  is  begotten  of  Spirit  is  Spirit.  I  am  before  I 
am  manifest.  Man  is  potential  in  God,  and  is  expresser, 
co-worker,  and  capable  of  doing  God's  will  demonstrat- 
ing the  Nature  of  Spirit. 

Man  is  Being  and  Existence,  created  in  the  image  of  God's 
eternity  and  wholeness.  There  is  one  Spirit  and  one 
Body.  Individually,  we  are  inseparable.  Evil,  so-called, 
is  simply  falling  short,  or  missing  the  mark  of,  this  Truth. 
The  organ  of  this  movement  is  Harmony,  now 
in  its  17th  year,  published  in  San  Francisco 
at  $1  a  year.  Mrs.  Cramer  also  publishes 
several  books  and  holds  meetings  and  classes 
at  her  College  of  Divine  Science  in  this  city. 

TRUTH  STUDENTS. 

A  class  of  sincere,  intelligent  and  progressive 
people  take  this  name.  They  establish' 'Homes 
of  Truth"  where  teaching  and  healing  is  done 
and  freewill  offerings  received.  Their  thought 
does  not  differ  from  that  of  Mental  and  Di- 
vine Scientists.  Their  methods  are,  however, 
more  in  harmony  with  Divine  Science.  They 
use  the  Bible,  giving  it  a  spiritual  interpreta- 
tion. They  are  in  every  way  successful  and 
form  an  important  brancn  of  the  New  Thought 
movement.  Unity,  $1  a  year,  of  Kansas 
City,  Mo.,  is  their  principal  journal.  It  is 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  45 

ever  fair  and  honorable  in  its  treatment  of  all 
other  phases  of  thought,  and  has  at  its  head 
two  of  the  clearest  of  teachers, — Charles  and 
Myrtle  Filmore.  Unity  Company  also  pub- 
lishes the  only  child's  paper  in  New  Thought, 
—Wee  Wisdom.  It  is  a  beautiful  little  sheet,, 
filled  with  just  the  thought  that  will  make 
the  child  who  reads  it,  self-reliant,  honorable 
and  happy.  It  is  50c  a  year,  and  should  be 
in  every  home  as  the  child's  companion. 

SUGGESTIVE  THERAPEUTICS. 

One  of  the  most  important  phases  of  New 
Thought  is  known  as  Suggestive  Therapeutics 
or  Healing  by  Suggestion.  It  is  based  upon 
the  Law  of  Suggestion, —a  Law  which  under- 
lies all  the  methods  of  the  various  schools  of 
Mental  Healing.  While  other  schools  use 
silent  methods  alone,  in  this  school  every 
known  method  of  conveying  a  Suggestion  is 
used.  Since  the  Law  is:  /  am  that  which  I 
think  I  am,  it  follows  that  all  that  any  system 
can  do  is  to  bring  the  patient  into  a  right 
mental  attitude,  then  the  Soul  (or  Mind) 
works  the  cure.  *  'Magnetic  Healing,"  and 
other  forms  of  healing,  are  facts,  but  Sugges- 
tion is  an  ever-present  factor  in  them  all. 
That  the  Human  body  possesses  something 
akin  to  radio-activity  that  will  heal,  is  a  well 
attested  fact.  That  there  are  mental  and 
psychic  forces  that  can  heal,  is  also  a  fact;  but 
without  Suggestion  they  can  be  neither  con- 
veyed nor  received.  A  Suggestion,  by  word,, 
gesture  or  thought,  is  necessary.  It  is  con- 
stantly becoming  more  widely  recognized 
that  Suggestion  plays  a  more  important  part 
in  healing,  even  when  medicine  is  used,  than 
most  have  been  willing  to  allow.  The  under- 


46  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

lying  Principles  of  all  schools  of  New  Thought 
are:  Mind  con  trols  all  the  manifestations  of  Human 
life,  and  disease  is  the  result  of  mental  conditions. 
Whatever,  therefore,  conduces  to  proper  and 
healthful  mental  states,  tends  to  cure.  The 
success  of  practitioners  in  Suggestion  in  cur- 
ing all  manner  of  human  ills,  is  making  ex- 
tensive demands  upon  its  teachers,and  schools, 
institutions  and  teachers  of  all  grades  of  ex- 
cellence, are  plentiful. 

The  leading  journal  in  this  line  is  Suggestion, 
published  in  Chicago,  $1  a  year.  The  liter- 
ature upon  this  subject  is  large.  Any  good 
author  upon  Hypnotism  -will  do  to  start  with. 
Hudson's  "Law  of  Psychic  Phenomena"  is 
good,  providing  one  will  not  be  misled  by  his 
special  plea  for  a  dual  mind  and  his  prejudice 
against  Spiritualism.  A.  E.  Carpenter's  little 
book/ 'Plain  instructions  in  Hypnotism,"  and 
my  two  books,  *  'How  to  Control  Fate  through 
Suggestion"  and  "Not  Hypnotism  but  Sug- 
gestion," are  especially  recommended  to  be 
read  before  others  are  taken  up.  They  will 
open  the  way  to  a  more  accurate  judgment 
than  can  be  formed  from  advertisements.  A 
most  essential  knowledge  in  New  Thought  is 
that  of  Suggestion.  Without  it,  one  will  fall 
into  fads  and  impose  limitations  upon  Truth. 
Suggestion,  when  used  upon  one's  self,  is 
termed  Self-Suggestion — Auto-Suggestion — or 
better  still,  Affirmation.  Through  the  use  of 
Affirmation,  one  can  cure  all  ills,  including 
failure  and  poverty. 

The  popular  name  for  this  method  of  healing 
is  Hypnotism,  but  this  term  conve}rs  a  wrong 
impression.  It  was  coined  from  a  misconcep- 
tion of  the  source  of  the  power,and  is  now  re- 
pudiated by  all  advanced  thinkers  in  this  field 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  47 

of  thought.  The  power  is  that  of  the  patient's 
own  mind,  directed  by  the  wise  Suggestion  of 
the  Healer.  Suggestion  here,  as  everywhere 
in  life,  is  the  potent  factor. 

PSYCHIC  RESEARCH  SOCIETY. 

For  twenty  years  or  more  a  number  of  scien- 
tific gentlemen,  under  the  name  of  "The  Psy- 
chic Research  Society,"  have  been  investigat- 
ing psychic  phenomena  with  a  view  of  ascer- 
taining first,  "the  truthfulness  of  the  common 
tales;"  next,  to  discover  the  origin  of  the 
phenomena.  Among  its  more  active  members 
are  included  eminent  psychologists,  physic- 
ists and  authorative  thinkers  in  many  fields 
of  activity.  Among  them  are  Sir  William 
Crooks,  Oliver  Lodge,  Balfour  Stewart,  W. 
F.  Barrett,  Arthur  Balflour,  E.  W.  H.  Myers, 
Andrew  Lang,  Lord  Rayleigh,  and  many 
others  of  prominence  in  England,  with  Phil- 
lips Brooks,  William  James,  J.  H.  Hyslop,  R. 
Heber-Newton,  Minot  J.  Savage,  and  others 
of  equal  power  in  the  United  States.  Glad- 
stone remarked  to  Professor  Myers  that  the 
work  of  the  Society  "was  the  most  important 
being  done  in  the  world — by  far  the  most 
important."  This  society  has  published  the 
results  of  its  researches  and  many  have  been 
convinced,  by  the  phenomena  so  carefully 
reported  and  studied,  that  Man  lives  after 
death  and  can,  under  right  conditions,  communi- 
cate with  those  still  in  the  material  form.  Prof. 
Myers,  the  secretary,  has  given  the  world  the 
results  of  these  years  of  investigation  in  a 
work  entitled,  "Human  Personality  and  its 
Survival  of  Bodily  Death,"  which  is  one  of 
the  most  important  works  since  Darwin's 
promulgation  of  "The  Origin  of  the  Species." 


48  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

What  may  be  the  opinion  of  other  members 
of  the  committee,  Prof.  Myers  in  these  words 
announces  the  results  of  the  study  upon 
himself— 

It  seems  to  me  that  a  growing  conception  of  the  unity 
and  the  solidarity  of  the  Human  race  is  preparing  the 
way  for  a  world  religion  which  expresses  and  rests  upon 
that  solidarity.  *  *  *  The  new  conception  is  neither  of 
benefactors  dead  and  done  for,  inspiring  us  from  their 
dates  in  the  almanac,  nor  of  shadowy  saints  imagined  to 
intercede  for  us  at  the  tribunals  more  shadowy  still;  but 
rather  of  a  human  unity,  close  linked  beneath  an  un- 
known sway,  wherein  every  man  who  has  been  or  now 
is,  makes  a  living  element,  inalienable,  incorporate,  and 
imperishable  co-operant,and  joint  inheritor  of  one  Infinite 
hope. 

From  the  evidence  presented  he  draws  this 
conclusion:— 

Every  element  of  individual  wisdom,  virtue  and  love,  de- 
velops in  infinite  evolution  towards  an  ever- nearing  hope* 
towards  "Him  who  is  at  once  thine  innermost  Self  and 
thine  ever  unattainable  Desire." 

In  this  outburst  of  faith  he  gives  as  the 
promise  for  the  Twentieth  century's  zenith 
the  realization  of  Immortality: — 
I  have  often  felt  as  though  the  present  age  were  ever  un- 
duly favored,  as  though  no  future  revelation  and  calm 
could  equal  the  joy  of  this  great  struggle  from  doubt  into 
certainty;  from  materialism  or  agnosticism  which  ac- 
companies the  first  advance  of  Science,  into  the  deeper 
scientific  conviction,  that  there  is  a  deathless  soul  in  man. 
I  can  imagine  no  other  crises  of  such  deep  delight.  End* 
less  are  the  varieties  of  lofty  joy.  In  the  age  of  Thales,. 
Greece  knew  the  delight  of  the  first  dim  notion  of  cosmic 
unity  and  law.  In  the  age  of  Christ,  Europe  felt  the 
authentic  messages  from  a  world  beyond  our  own.  In 
our  own  age, we  reach  the  perception  that  such  messages 
may  become  continuous  and  progressive;  that  between. 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  49 

seen  and  unseen,  there  is  a  channel  and  fair  way  which 
future  generations  may  learn  to  widen  and  clarify.  Nay, 
in  the  Infinite  Universe,  man  may  now  feel  for  the  first 
time  at  home.  The  worst  fear  is  over;  the  true  security 
is  won.  The  worst  fear  was  the  fear  of  spiritual  extinc- 
tion or  spiritual  solitude;  the  true  security  is  in  the  tele- 
pathic law. 

OSTEOPATHY. 

While  this  school  of  medicine  is  a  great 
advance  upon  the  old  schools,  it  cannot  be 
properly  classed  with  New  Thought.  It  re- 
cognizes body,  and  adopts  methods  of  bodily 
treatments  and  hygenic  precautions  while 
New  Thought  relies  entirely  upon  Mental 
treatments.  However,  this  school  recognizes, 
to  an  ever-widening  extent,  the  effect  of  men- 
tal conditions  and  adopts  mental  methods  of 
healing.  Its  progressive  practitioners  are 
rapidly  growing  into  Suggestive  Therapeutics. 
This  ally  is  heartily  welcomed.  They  have 
secured  legal  recognition  in  many  states,  and 
are  an  important  factor  in  securing  Medical 
Liberty  for  all.  This  extract  from  the  Health 
Magazine  by  Dr.  W.  P.  Burk,  of  the  College 
and  Sanitarium  in  this  city,  reveals  some- 
thing of  the  position  of  Osteopathy: — 

I  have  found  that  where  the  organs  of  the  body  are 
thrown  down  by  reason  of  the  mental  part  being  out  of 
adjustment,  that  in  spite  of  all  physical  methods  the 
mal-adjustment  continues  and  will,  until  the  psychic 
part  is  adjusted.  Condemn  no  organ  of  the  body,  but 
agree  with  it  and  the  victory  is  complete  and  lasting. 
Ignorance  of  the  Laws  of  Life  on  the  plane  of  man's 
existence  is  responsible  for  the  great  horde  of  physicians 
and  nurses,  drug  stores,  and  drug-giving,  the  existence 
of  sanitariums  and  all  the  different  systems  of  cure  in  use 
at  the  present  time. 


50  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

LITERATURE  OF  NEW  THOUGHT. 

Students  of  New  Thought  will  find  an  exten- 
sive literature  from  which  to  choose.  Poems, 
essays,  lessons,  treatises,  lectures,  tracts, 
compends  and  journals  are  numerous.  I  can 
mention  only  the  most  widely  known  ot 
these.  Among  authors  I  notice  first  Rev.  F. 
W.  Evans.  He  began  to  publish  early  in  the 
sixties.  His  books  are  among  the  very  best. 
"Mental  Cure,"  " Mental  Medicine,"  "Divine 
Law  of  Cure,"  "  Primitive  Mind  Cure,"  "Soul 
and  Body,"  and  "Esoteric  Christianity," 
-comprise  a  valuable  library.  Prentice  Mul- 
ford  was  also  one  of  the  prolific  and  powerful 
Dearly  authors. 

P.  P.  Quimby  of  Portland,  Maine,  was  prob- 
ably the  first  to  apply  in  its  present  form  the 
principle  of  Mental  Healing.  The  reader  is  re- 
fered  to  a  book  by  Mrs.  A.  G.  Dresser,  entitled 
"Philosophy  of  P.  P.  Quimby,"  and  "  The  True 
History  of  Mental  Science,"  by  J.  A.  Dresser, 
for  an  extended  report  of  Dr.  Quimby. 
Mrs.  Eddy  was  a  patient  and  pupil  of  Dr. 
Quimby,  and  later  applied  the  Principle  he 
discovered  and  the  philosophy  she  obtained 
from  her  acquaintance  with  Spiritualism,  to 
her  system  of  Biblical  interpretation  and 
method  of  cure.  Dr.  Quimby  was  first  a  prac- 
titioner in  "Animal  Magnetism,"  and  by  ex- 
perimentation came  to  the  conclusion  that 
disease  was  a  belief.  For  several  years  he 
taught  and  treated  from  this  Thought,  which 
is  now  the  foundation  Principle  of  all  mental 
healing. 

Dr.  J.  H.  Dewey  of  New  York  City  has  taught 
for  many  years  a  rational,  but  spiritual  in- 
terpretation of  the  Bible,  and  his  many  works 
are  a  valuable  contribution  to  New  Thought. 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  51 

Especially  recommended  are  the  works  of 
Ralph  Waldo  Trine,  H.  S.  Dresser,  Chas.  New- 
comb,  Henry  Wood,  Paul  Tyner,  Horace 
Fletcher,  Eugene  Del  Mar,  R.  Heber  Newton, 
Anna  McGowan,  Lillian  Whiting,  Ella 
Wheeler  Wilcox,  F.  B.  Dowd,  W.  J.  Colville, 
Lizzie  Doten,  Franz  Hartman,  Minot  J.  Sav- 
age, Charles  Brodie  Patterson,  Thomas  J. 
Hudson,  Henry  Frank,  Eleanor  Kirk,  Emilie 
Cady,  Ursula  Gesterfield,  James  Allen,  Han- 
nah Moore  Kohaus,  Helen  Van  Anderson, 
Emma  Curtis  Hopkins,  Fannie  B.  James, 
Thomas  J.  Shelton,  Anna  Rix  Militz,  Edmund 
Whipple,  A.  P.  Call,  Stanton  Kirkham  Davis, 
Helen  Wilmans,  Theodore  F.  Seward,  Nancy 
McKay  Gordan,  Lida  Churchill,  Alfred  Rus- 
sell Wallace,  Dr.  J.  R.  Buchannan,  Sir  William 
Crookes,  Margaret  B.  Peak,  Hudson  Tuttle, 
Ernest  Loomis,  Andrew  Jackson  Davis,  C.  W. 
Close,  S.  A.  Weltmer,  Robert  G.  Ingersoll, 
Charles  Dawbarn,  F.  N.  Doud,  Joseph  Stew- 
art, O.  Kashnu  Hara,  and  HENRY  HARRISON 
BROWN.  These  authors  cover  all  the  many 
phases  of  New  Thought.  Each  has  his  or  her 
work  in  the  great  evolution  of  Thought, 
which  the  twentieth  century  is  to  manifest. 

NEW  THOUGHT  JOURNALS. 

No  field  of  journalistic  labor  shows  greater 
intellectual  power  than  New  Thought.  In 
addition  to  this  fact  is  this  more  import- 
ant one:  they  show  a  moral  power  that  is  a 
saving  grace  to  the  nation.  The  spirit  of  the 
old  martyrs  is  upon  the  editors  of  New 
Thought  journals,  but  having  up-to-date 
wisdom  they  do  not  invite  martyrdom,  or 
believe  in  it.  In  strong  and  convincing  words 
they  speak,  and  behind  the  word  is  that  spirit 


52  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

of  love,  which  recognizes  mankind  as  one, 
and  they  all  trust  that  common  Father  who 
moves  upon  the  hearts  and  brains  of  His 
children.  It  is  an  honor  to  be  a  co-worker 
with  such  men  and  women.  Here  is  a  brief 
glance  at  the  Journals  :— 
Mind,  New  York  City,  $2.00  per  year,  month- 
ly, edited  by  Charles  Brodie  Patterson,  is  the 
only  magazine  of  its  class  devoted  to  New- 
Thought.  It  is  the  heavy  artillery  of  the 
movement. 

Metaphysical  Magazine,  N.  Y.,  is  a  quarterly 
edited  by  Leander  Whipple  at  $1. 
Realization,  Washington,  D.  C.,  $1.50,  edited 
by  Joseph  Stewart;  bi-monthly. 
Christian,  Denver,  Colo.,  monthly,  $1.  Edited 
by  Thomas  J.  Sheltpn.  This  is  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  widely  circulated  of  New 
Thought  Journals.  Mr.  Shelton  calls  himself 
"  Christian  Science,"  but  has  nothing  in  com- 
mon with  Mrs.  Eddy,  being  in  all  ways  an 
individualist. 

Freedom,  Sea  Breeze,  Fla.,  weekly  (see  p.  43) 
Nautilus,  Holyoke,  Mass.,  monthly,  50c. 
Elizabeth  Towne,  editor.  This  is  to  be  classed 
with  the  successful  and  outspoken  of  New 
Thought  journals.  Its  philosophy  is  indi- 
vidualistic and  free  from  all  theological  tend- 
encies. 

Eleanor  Kirk's  Monthly,  Brooklyn,  N.   Y.,  $1. 
A  progressive,  clear-headed  woman  edits  this 
and  it  is  felt  wherever  read. 
Dominion,   Brooklyn,   N.   Y.,   bi-monthly,   $1. 
Edited  by  Francis  Edgar  Mason,  who  for 
years   has   been  pastor   of  the    "  Dominion 
Church."     A  journal  with  clear  statements 
of  the  Principles  of  Life. 
Radiant  Centre,  Washington,  D.   C.,  monthly 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  53 

$1.  Kate  Atkinson  Boehme,  editor.  Fills  an 
important  place  as  it  recognizes  what  many 
do  not, — the  reality  of  psychic  phenomena. 
Washington  News  Letter,  Washington,  D.  C., 
monthly,  $1.  Col.  Oliver  C.  Sabin,  editor. 
This  is  the  organ  of  "  The  Reformed  Christian 
Church,"  of  which  Col.  Sabin  is  Bishop. 
Aside  from  its  close  adhesion  to  Biblical 
terms  and  interpretations  it  has  nothing  that 
differentiates  it  from  other  phases  of  New 
Thought. 

Unity  and  Wee  Wisdom,  of  Kansas  City,  $1  and 
50c,  have  been  noticed.  Both  are  doing  noble 
service.  They  are  welcome  at  "NOW" 
Home  for  the  spiritual  atmosphere  they  bring. 
Life,  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  monthly,  $1.  A  jour- 
nal of  Applied  Metaphysics.  A.  P.  and  C.  J. 
Barton,editors.  One  of  the  oldest  and  staunch- 
est  of  independent  metaphysical  journals. 
Every  word  Mr.  Barton  pens  for  Life  is 
fraught  with  a  deep  sense  of  the  responsibility 
of  his  position  as  teacher. 
Ella  Wheeler  Wilcox's  articles  in  the  Hearst 
Syndicate  are  valuable  contributions  to  New 
Thought. 

The  Higher  Thought,  Kalamazoo,  Mich., 
monthly,  50c.  Evelyn  Arthur  and  Chester 
See,  editors.  A  journal  full  of  strong  spiritual 
vibrations. 

Worlds  Advanced  Thought,  Portland,  Ore.,  50c 
monthly.  Lucy  A.  Mallpry,  editor.  Mrs. 
Mallory  has  published  this  for  many  years. 
I  am  of  the  impression  that  it  is  the  oldest 
New  Thought  journal.  She  is  a  very  clear 
thinker  and  careful  writer,  her  principles  of 
the  highest  and  her  ideal  the  noblest.  She  is 
a  great  sower  of  seed  thoughts,  which  are 
-widely  quoted. 


54  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

Fred  Burfs  Journal,  monthly,  Toronto,  Can., 
$1.  This  is  the  only  Canadian  journal  advo- 
cating New  Thought.  The  editor  publishes 
only  his  own  articles  and  has  no  need  to 
call  assistance.  He  puts  out  a  most  helpful 
journal,  free  from  the  limitations  of  any 
authority  but  his  own  sense  of  right. 
It,  San  Antonio,  Tex.  Editor,  G.  Ralph  West- 
on,  M.  D.,  $1.  This  is  a  comparatively  new 
venture  and  evidently  has  come  to  stay  lor  it 
claims  quite  a  circulation.  It  is  a  fearless, 
outspoken  journal  along  Mental  Science  lines. 
Mental  Advocate,  Chicago,  111.  Organ  of  the 
Prentice  Mulford  Society.  $1  a  year. 
Common  Sense  Advocate,  Denver,  Colo.  Eu- 
gene Del  Mar,  editor.  $1.00.  Is  a  meaty 
journal  by  a  clear  and  forcible  reasoner  and 
Mental  Science  teacher. 

New  Thought  Searchlight,  Allegheny,  Pa., 
$1.00.  Edited  by  Virginia  F.  Sheppard.  A 
clean  little  journal  advocating  Suggestion  in 
healing  and  recognizing  that  psychic  phe- 
nomena which  demonstrates  Man  to  be  spirit 
now  and  eternally. 

Now,  A  Journal  of  Affirmation,  monthly,  San 
Francisco,  Cal.  Henry  Harrison  Brown,  edit- 
or. $1  a  year.  Its  Fundamental  Principle  is : 
Man  is  Spirit  here,  and  lives  the  spiritual  life  now. 
Its  method  of  instruction  is  by  Affirmation. 
It  is  in  its  4th  volume.  Each  number  con- 
tains" A  Lesson  in  Soul  Culture;"  a  series 
of  Affirmations;  an  editorial  upon  some 
phases  of  Life  and  its  manifestation,  besides 
report  of  Phenomena,  selections  from  leading 
New  Thought  journals,  book  notices,  and 
poem  by  the  editor,  and  dialect  poems  by 
Sam^Exton  Foulds.  It  is  a  leading  New 
Thought  journal,  carefully  edited,  outspoken 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  55 

and  fearless,  yet  ever  kindly.  Its  spirit  is  that 
of  Emerson's  admonition : 

"Don't  bark  against  the  bad,  but  chant  the  beauties  of 
the  GOOD." 

THE  UNITARIAN  JOURNALS  ARE: 
Christian  Register,  Boston,  Mass.,  $2.  There 
is  not  in  the  U.  S.  a  more  carefully  edited 
journal.  It  has  contributions  from  the  bright- 
est writers  and  ministers,  and  while  con- 
servative, is  free  in  expression.  It  has  power- 
ful influence  in  literary  and  theological  fields. 
Unity,  Chicago,  $1.  Is  the  organ  of  Western 
Unitarianism,  edited  by  one  of  the  most  soul- 
ful of  ministers,  Jenkins  Lloyd  Jones.  It  is  in 
the  front  rank  of  journals  for  its  humanita- 
rian and  progressive  ideas. 
Pacific  Coast  Unitarianism  is  represented  by 
the  Pacific  Unitarian,  published  at  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cal.,  at  $1.  This  is  a  fine  little  paper 
much  less  known  than  it  deserves. 
Our  Best  Words,  Shelbyville,  111.,  at  50c.,  is  a 
little  journal  in  its  21st  volume,  edited  by 
Jasper  L.  Douthit,  Unitarian  minister  at  that 
place. 

SPIRITUALISM, 

Among  journals  devoted  to  Spiritualism  I 
recommend  the  Banner  of  Light, Boston,  Mass., 
weekly,  $2  a  year.  Light  of  Truth,  Columbus, 
Ohio,  weekly,  $1.  Philosophical  Journal,  San 
Francisco,  Cal.,  $1.  Sunflower,  Lilly  Dale, 
N.  Y.,  $1. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Among  journals  devoted  in  part  to  New- 
Thought  is  noted: — Magazine  of  Mysteries,  N. 
Y.,  monthly,  $1.  Medical  Talk,  Columbus,  O. 


56  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

Monthly,  50c  a  year.  Ariel,  monthly,  50c., 
West  wood,  Mass.,  $1.  Riches,  Ruskin,  Tenn. 
25c.  Moments,  New  Denver,  B.  C.,  $1.  Self- 
Culture,  Omaha,  Neb.,  $1.  P.  Braun,  editor. 
Reasoner,  $1  a  year,  San  Luis  Obispo,  Calif. 
Jacob  Tulley,  editor.  A  very  progressive 
journal;  two  pages  devoted  to  New  Thought. 
New  Life,  Orfino,  Ida.,  75c  a  year.  Occult 
Tiuth  Seeker,  Lawrence,  Kan.,  $1.  Naturopath, 
N.  Y.  City,  devoted  more  especially  to  the 
Father  Kneipp  nature  cure.  $1. 

TEACHERS  AND  SOCIETIES 

Are  numerous  in  every  city.  It  would  require 
quite  a  book  to  contain  their  names.  Many 
have  cards  in  the  various  journals.  The 
reader  is  referred  to  them.  Anyone  desiring 
lessons  is  recommended  to  take  advice  in  re- 
gard to  teachers  from  those  well  posted  in 
New  Thought.  All  sorts  of  fads  and  personal 
idiosyncrasies  are  being  palmed  off  upon  the 
public  as  phases  of  New  Thought.  Astrology, 
Palmistry,  Physical  Culture,  Vegetarianism, 
Fasting,  Dieting,  Graphology,  Chromopha- 
thy,  etc.,  are  no  more  a  part  of  New  Thought 
than  are  Geology,  Chemistry  and  Physiology. 
These  may  be  truth,  but  they  are  not  New 
Thought.  They  rest  upon  a  recognition  of 
the  body.  New  Thought  recognizes  Mind 
alone,  and  cures  alone  through  mental 
agencies.  Hygiene,  Dieting,  etc.,  take  cogni- 
zance of  body — are  the  application  of  methods 
that  recognize  physical  instrumentalities.  It 
is  not  the  author's  business  to  decide  what 
truth  there  may  be  in  any  system.  It  is  his 
business  to  classify.  Only  those  who  teach 
and  rely  upon  purely  Mental  Methods  does 
he  class  as  New  Thought.  Mind  is  all.  Mind 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  57 

controls  its  manifestation,  called  body.  Body 
is  the  creation  of  mind.  All  physical  condi- 
tions are  the  reflection  of  mental  conditions. 
Unpleasant  conditions  are  to  be  removed  by 
mental  means.  Thought  is  the  instrumental- 
ity, and  the  only  one,  used  by  New  Thought 
teachers.  The  axiom  of  the  movement  is — 

MAN  HAS  POWER  THROUGH  RIGHT  THINKING 
TO  CONTROL  HIS  ENVIRONMENT. 

SOCIETIES. 

Many  societies  along  each  of  the  lines  enum- 
erated in  preceding  sections,  have  been  formed 
all  over  the  United  States.  It  is  estimated 
that  those  who  accept  some  phase  of  New- 
Thought  already  number  millions.  This  list 
of  societies  in  Chicago  sent  out  with  the  cir- 
culars for  a  New  Thought  Convention  may 
be  taken  as  a  criterion  for  other  cities :  Col- 
lege of  Freedom;  Chicago  Truth  center;  Exo- 
dus Soceity;  Esoteric  Extension;  Mental 
Science  Institute;  Prentice  Mulford  Club; 
Sara  Wilder  Pratt  Rooms;  Universal  Truth 
Club;  and  Truth  Students. 

FOREIGN  JOURNALS,  AND  PROGRESS. 

The  only  foreign  New  Thought  journals  that 
come  to  NOW  office  are:  The  Light  of  Reason, 
edited  by  James  Allen,  London;  the  English 
Magazine  of  Mysteries,  edited  by  O  Hashnu 
Hara,  the  well  known  English  writer  upon 
Occult  themes;  The  Century,  published  at  Ade- 
laide, New  South  Wales,  Australia;  and  one 
from  Madras,  India,  printed  in  native  tongue, 
entitled  The  Viveka  Chintamani" 
That  this  Thought  has  penetrated  every  land 
is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  NOW  has  sub- 
scribers, and  "NOW"  Folk  correspondents,  in 
every  land  where  English  is  spoken. 


Soul  Culture  and  "NOW"  Philosophy,. 
Explained  and  Defined. 


Soul  Culture  is  an  attempt  to  systematically 
cultivate  the  spiritual  faculties.  Conscious  of 
physical  powers,  man  has  learned  to  cultivate 
them;  conscious  of  intellectual  powers,  he  has 
learned  to  discipline  them;  conscious  of  es- 
thetic powers,  he  has  learned  to  develop  them. 
He  is  now  becoming  conscious  of  himself  as- 
Spirit,  and  in  this  consciousness  is  recognizing 
within  himself  spiritual  faculties.  Call  them 
"psychic"  if  it  please  3rou,  or  name  them  with 
Paul,  "Spiritual  gifts."  In  this  recognition,  he 
is  learning  to  develop  them.  I  AM  AN  UN- 
FOLDING SOUL,  is  the  Affirmation  of  pro- 
gressive persons.  All  New  Thought  schools 
are  more  or  less  imbued  with  this  perception. 
But  in  the  inception  of  so  great  a  movement, 
there  is  necessarily  much  chaff  with  the  wheat. 
No  method,  no  Philosophy,  should  be  too 
critically  examined,  but  each  should  bestudied 
for  the  Truth  there  is  in  it,  and  not  as  an  ex- 
pected perfect  expression  of  Truth.  As  the 
best  that  can  be  formulated  under  present 
knowledge,  I  put  forth  Soul  Culture,  which  is 
an  extended  application  of  the  present  scien- 
tific method  of  investigation  and  practice,  by 
carrying  rational  thought  into  spiritual  fields. 

I  AM  SPIRIT^ 

Soul  Culture  is  based  upon  the  Affirmation: 
I  AM  SPIRIT  !  which  is  the  individual  applica- 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  59 

tion  of  the  larger  Affirmation:  ALL  is  SPIRIT! 
Let  it  be  understood  that  no  attempt  is  made 
to  tell  what  this  Universal  Spirit  is.  It  stands 
for  that  "power  behind  phenomena"  which 
men  in  all  ages  have  recognized  and  named  by 
various  names,  among  which  are  "God," 
"Brahma,"  "Allah,"  "Mind,"  "Force,"  "In- 
telligence,"  "Eternal  Wisdom,"  "Omnipo- 
tence," "Energy."  I  prefer  the  term,  Spirit. 

AFFIRMATION. 

"NOW  Philosophy  is  based  upon  the  Principle 
of  Affirmation.  This  is  the  individual  side  of 
the  Law  of  Suggestion:— I  AM  THAT 
WHICH  I  THINK  I  AM.  It  is  also  termed 
Auto-Suggestion  and  Self-Hypnotism.  This 
is  stating  in  the  terms  of  today  the  thought 
of  old  as  expressed  in  the  words,  "As  a  man 
thinketh  in  his  heart,  so  is  he,"  which  is  to  be 
interpreted  thus:  A  person  is  controlled  by 
his  convictions  of  Truth.  Upon  this  Law,  all 
the  work  of  Soul  Culture  rests.  Teach  a  per- 
son WHAT  TO  THINK,  and  How  TO  THINK,, 
and  you  have  done  for  him  all  you  can.  The 
Law  of  Suggestion  is  the  Universal  and  Ever- 
present  Law  of  Human  life.  Through  a 
knowledge  and  application  of  it,  one  may 
control  his  fate. 

UNITY. 

This  also  is  a  fundamental  Principlein  "NOW" 
Philosophy.  It  is  now  fundamental  all  phil- 
osophic and  scientific  reasoning!  But  in  this 
system  it  is  carried  to  its  full  logical  extent. 
Everywhere  and  in  everything,  nothing  is 
seen  but  the  manifestation  of  ONE  SOME- 
THING, and  that  something  is  GOOD.  This 
One,  which  I  call  indifferently  Spirit  or  God, 


60  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

manifests  in  millions  of  ways,  but  no  matter 
what  the  manifestation,  that  form  of  mani- 
festation is  known  only  as  "A  mode  of  Mo- 
tion." The  only  way  this  One  is  known  to 
us  is  through  these  modes  of  Motion.  IT  will 
not  do  to  affirm  that  this  One  is  Motion,  but 
it  is  true,  that  all  we  can  ever  know  of  IT,  is 
through  Motion.  This  motion  may  beetheric, 
atomic,  molecular,  electric,  or  the  action  of 
ions,  but  in  whatever  form,  it  is  manifest  to 
the  senses  as  Vibration,  and  consciously  rec- 
ognized as  Sensation. 

These  Modes  of  Motion  differ  in  the  speed 
of  Vibration.  Both  Vibration  and  the  result- 
ing Sensation  are  named  alike.  For  instance: 
Heat  is  the  name  for  waves  of  motion  of  a 
certain  length  and  speed,  and  also  for  the 
sensation  produced  by  them.  So  it  is  with 
light,  sound,  etc. 

THE  IDEA  OF  DUALITY. 

The  primitive  man's,  the  child  man's,  idea  of 
the  Universe  was  that  of  two  antagonistic 
forces  ever  at  war.  One  was  good  and  one 
was  evil.  This  primitive  idea  still  maintains 
its  place  among  the  masses,  but  has  passed 
away  from  all  who  adopt  New  Thought. 
Science  having  demonstrated  that  there  is 
but  one  Energy  under  various  Modes  of  Mo- 
tion, it  follows  that  Philosophy  and  Ethics 
must  also  give  up  the  idea  ot  duality.  The 
One  Power  cannot  be  both  Good  and  Evil. 
To  New  Thought  all  is  Good.  Good  and  evil 
are  not  conditions  of  the  One,  but  are  the 
mental  attitude  the  individual  takes  toward 
manifestations  of  the  One.  Evil  is  not  in  the 
circumstance;  it  is  the  way  in  which  the  cir- 
cumstance is  viewed.  Evil  is  not  in  the  mani- 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  61 

festations  of  God,  in  the  manifestations  of 
Eternal  Energy,  but  is  the  opinion  one  holds 
of  that  manifestation.  The  circumstances  of 
life  are  non-ethical.  Electricity,  wind,  rain, 
fire,  flood,  sun,  night,  etc.,  are  in  themselves 
without  ethical  significance. 
These,  in  lands  where  man  is  not,  are  neither 

food  nor  bad.  When  man  comes  among  them 
e  soon  divides  them  into  those  he  enjoys  and 
those  he  fears.  This  distinction  he  makes 
from  their  effects  upon  himself.  Thus,  sun  is 
good  to  the  person  who  wishes  it  to  ripen  his 
grain ;  it  is  evil  to  him  who  falls  under  its 
stroke.  But  the  ultimate  ot  every  human  ex- 
perience is  knowledge  and  unfoldfment.  New 
Thought  looks  beyond  present  appearance, 
to  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  the  ONE  and 
affirms : — 

ALL  IS  GOOD,* 

This  is  one  of  the  principal  Affirmations  ot 
Soul  Culture.  To  affirm  it  and  actualize  it 
by  Jiving  it  is  to  make  every  circumstance 
good,  easily  endured,  because  it  is  a  lesson. 
The  recognition  of  the  All  Good  makes  the 
manifestations  of  life  joyous. 

TELEPATHY^ 

Soul  Culture  is  in  harmony  with  the  deduc- 
tions of  science,  and  through  the  phenomena 
of  Telepathy,  which  is  the  translerance  of  a 
thought  or  an  emotion  from  one  person  to 
another  without  material  means  of  contact. 
It  is  now  a  demonstrated  fact  that  Thought 
and  Emotion  are  also  forms  of  Force, "  Modes 
of  Motion,"  manifestations  of  Universal 
energy,  and  subject  to  investigation  and  in- 
telligent control  as  are  the  ordinary  forms  of 


62  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

Energy.  This  fact  is  the  connecting  link  be- 
tween Physical  and  Spiritual  science.  It 
unites  physics  and  metaphysics,  making  of  the 
two  one  Science  of  Mind. 

SPIRITUAL  FACULTIES^ 

Heretofore  man  has  limited  his  perceptions  of 
Modes  of  Motion  (Vibrations)  to  those  rec- 
ognized by  his  five  senses.  The  fact  that 
Thought  and  Emotion  are  also  Modes  of 
Motion  led  to  the  discovery  that  man  has 
means  of  recognizing  these  finer  Vibrations, 
and  to  the  five  senses  is  added  those  spiritual 
means  of  recognition  which  we  term:  Intui- 
tion, Inspiration,  Telepathy,  Clairvoyance, 
and  Psychometry.  These  are  the  conscious 
responses  to  the  higher,  as  the  five  senses  are 
to  the  lower,  Vibrations. 

CONTROL  OF  LIFE  THROUGH 
KNOWLEDGE  OF  FINER  FORCES  * 

Understanding  Thought  as  Force,  man  has  it 
in  his  power,  through  the  control  of  Thought, 
to  control  his  life  expression,  and  make  of 
himself  whatever  he  chooses.  All  possibilities 
lie  latent  within  the  Soul.  Since  Man  is  that 
which  he  is  convinced  he  is,  it  is  possible  by 
the  persistent  holding  of  an  Ideal  to  become 
in  manifestation  that  Ideal.  Only  thus  has 
any  person  accomplished  anything  in  life. 
Soul  culture  teaches  how  to  do  this  intelli- 
gently, and  how  to  develop  any  faculty  at 
will.  Through  choice,  Man  will  in  future 
avoid  sickness,  failure,  pain,  sorrow,  and  all 
unhappiness,  since  he  can  think  what  he 
chooses,  and  Thought,  because  it  is  Force, 
moulds  his  Ideal  into  material  shape. 


NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER.  63 

UNFOLDMENT  OF  SPIRITUAL 
FACULTIES  ^  &  * 

Through  application  of  the  knowledge  of 
sound  as  Vibration,  man  has  trained  the  ear 
so  that  where  the  uneducated  will  not  notice 
discord,  the  trained  ear  will  detect  a  false  tone 
on  any  one  of  fifty  instruments.  The  trained 
eye  detects  shades  in  colors  the  ordinary  does 
not  see.  The  tea  taster  has  trained  his  tongue 
to  detect  slightest  flavors,  and  the  fingers  of 
the  blind  are  sensitive  to  slightest  inequalities 
in  surfaces.  This  sensitiveness  is  an  extension 
of  the  recognition  of  Sensations.  Thought 
and  Love  produce  Sensations,  not  upon  special 
organs,  but  upon  the  whole  nervous  system. 
For  instance,  we  FEEL  uncomfortable  in  the 
presence  of  certain  persons  or  in  certain  rooms; 
we  sense  coming  events;  at  times  we  feel  de- 
pressed or  elated  without  being  able  to  find 
cause  in  the  ordinary  channels.  A  study  of 
these  sensations  in  the  present  recognition  of 
Thought  and  Love  as  Power,  has  given  rise 
to  the  many  schools  of  New  Thought,  and  the 
methods  of  healing  noted  in  preceding  pages. 
Soul  Culture  is  the  result  of  thirty-five  years 
investigation  on  my  part  of  all  psychic  phe- 
nomena under  the  Law  of  Suggestion. 

EACH  PERSON  IS  AN  EGO. 

Each  person  is  an  Ego,  an  individual  Soul,  ^  a 
part  of  the  Indivisible  ONE,  and  possesses  in 
the  Real  Self— also  called  the  Sub-conscious — 
.all  possibilities  of  Infinity.  These  possibilities 
lie  in  it,  awaiting  unfoldmend  into  conscious- 
ness. All  power  and  all  wisdom  are  there. 
Life,  Thought,  and  Love,  are  there  in  limitless 


64  NEW  THOUGHT  PRIMER. 

quantity.  Therefore,  when  one  knows  how 
to  awaken  into  expression  this  sub-conscious 
self,  he  can  call  upon  it  for  supply  of  Life, 
and  thus  ever  manifest  normally  in  that  con- 
dition we  call  health ;  can  call  upon  it  for  In- 
telligence, for  Love,  for  Supply  in  any  direction. 
Supply  is  Infinite,  for  the  Soul  is  One  with 
Infinity,  and  has  the  ALL  for  its  reservoir. 
With  right  thought  and  emotion,  body  and 
environment  can  be  made  as  desired.  The 
secret  of  health,  success  and  happiness  lies  in 
knowing  what  and  how  to  think  and  then 

—THINKING. 

THE  PURPOSE  OF  SOUL  CULTURE 
Is  to  teach  men  and  women  so  to  think  as  to 
open  to  conscious  manifestation  this  Infinite 
Supply;  to  help  men  and  women  to  consci- 
ously control    their   destiny  through   right 
thinking;  to    help  them,  through  conscious 
choice,  to  build  life  to  desire.    As  a  child  of 
Infinite  Energy,   as  "A  son  of  God,"  as  "The 
heir  of  all  the  ages,"  man  is  to  become  con- 
scious that  he  possesses  '  'dominion  over  all 
things."    Mankind  has  looked  forward  to  a 
"Millennium,"  to    the    "Second    Coming   of 
Christ,"  to  a  "Day  of  Redemption,"  when  all 
shall  be  blessed.    All  may  consciously,  by  the 
Affirmation,  ALL  IS  GOOD,  make  conditions 
to  fulfill  all  these  prophecies,  longings  and 
hopes  of  mankind.    That  time  has  come  to 
thousands  who  have  accepted  New  Thought. 
All  should  recognize  it  as  being  here  now,  for 
it  comes  to  every  one  as  soon  as  he  recog- 
nizes that  the  Soul  is  one  with  Infinity  arid  he 
conciously  lives  in  the  Affirmations:  I  AM 
SPIRIT  HERE  AND  NOW!    I  LIVE  THE 
ETERNAL    LIFE   HERE  AND   NOW! 


VOU  Who  Read  this  Book  .  .  . 

Believing  that  you  are  interested  in,  and  desirous  of  a 
greater  understanding  of  Mind  and  Spiritual  Law,  we 
take  the  liberty  of  briefly  stating  the  treat  we  have  in 
store  for  you. 

Drop  in  Line* 

Ella  Wheeler  Wilcox  says:  "If  this  is  not  a  Spiritual  Age, 
it  certainly  is  an  age  of  Spiritual  Hunger." 
Prof.  Edgar  L.  Larkin,  of  Mt.  Lowe  Observatory,  in  the 
Hearst  papers,  says:  "The  most  wonderful  things  are  be- 
ing discovered.  There  is  time  here  to  mention  one  only, 
that  amazing  thing,  Suggestion.  (Hundreds  of  swindling 
fakirs  have  appeared,  and  fanatical  sects,  who  have 
abused  this  majestic  faculty  of  mind.)  There  is  a  real 
base  to  it;  it  is  a  complex  and  comprehensive  science." 

No  Short  Cuts^ 

You  should  ever  remember  that  there  are  no  short  cuts 
to  knowledge. 

Get  the  Best  to  Start  With, 

The  author  of  this  book,  Henry  Harrison  Brown,  who  is 
author  of  several  other  instructive  books  along  mental 
and  spiritual  lines,  is  also  editor  of  NOW,  Teacher,  Lect- 
urer. and  Psychonietrist.  There  is  no  doubt~~but  that 
Mr.  Brown  is  one  of  the  great  teachers  along  mental 
and  spiritual  lines.  His  books  received  praise  trom  many 
of  our  most  prominent  writers. 

Reading  Books*?* 

After  reading  Mr.  Brown's  books  and  subscribing  for  his 
monthly  journal  (see  announcement  opposite  title  page^, 
he  recommends  the  student  next  to  take  his  correspond- 
ence lessons.  These  Correspondence  Lessons  include:  the 
Art  of  Suggestion,  the  Art  of  Living,  and  Psychometry, 
62  lessons  in  all,  cnch  bound  separately.  These  Lessons 
form  an  Ideal  way  of  studying  the  entire  field  of  a  line  of 
thought  intensely  interesting.  It  is  worth  more  to  you 
than  Rockefeller's  millions.  Two  lessons  monthly  are 
enough  to  master,  thus  giving  time  for  growth.  These 
are  the  best  correspondence  courses  ever  put  out.  With 
each  lesson  belongs  a  letter  (no  extra  charge)  from  the 
author,  explaining  all  points  not  understood.  These  can 
lie  p.'iid  for  one  at  a  time.  WRITE  TODAY  ! 

Address,         "NOW"   FOLK. 

Correspondence  Department, 
1437  Market  Street,    SAX  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 


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